US Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen receives her voting card, marking the first time in 12 years that territorial delegates have been received one, in preparation for voting in the Committee of the Whole

Territorial delegates will now be permitted to vote for the first time in Christensen's tenure. In addition, Christensen has been named an Assistant Whip to Majority Whip Jim Clyburn. "This new position can only add more gravitas to the Virgin Islands agenda," the Delegate said. "I expect to be even more busy, but the opportunities that we now have before us have increased dramatically."   
 
"It is a very exciting day for me, for the territory and for Democrats because we have the opportunity to affect meaningful change in the areas of health, education, housing employment, and foreign policy for the first time in a decade," Christensen said. "I picked up my voting card and while the details as to when delegates will cast their first votes are not clear, my colleagues and I are clearly excited about the opportunity."
 
Christensen began her sixth term with the introduction of eleven Virgin Islands bills on the first day.

The bills concern the following issues:  a property tax bill pertaining to allowing the Virgin Islands to set its own tax policies, passage of a regulation that schools located on the US mainland and other US territories, commonwealths, and possesssions will provide a curriculum which includes instruction about the history of the US Virgin Islands, establishment of a court in the US Virgin Islands, to convey all submerged lands surrounding the US Virgin Islands to the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Proposal of an amendment to the US Constitution regarding presidental election voting rights for all US territories and commonwealths, to provide for residents of the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa to receive Supplemental Social Security benefits for the disabled, to repeal the rum tax cap cover over of tax on distilled spirits to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

To provide additional student loan forgiveness to teachers serving in the US Territories, Rural areas, and Native American reservations, authorisation for the National park Service to lease land to the VI Government for construction of a public school.

To amend the Social Security Act to amend the cap on government medicaid payments for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

Finally, to authorise the Government of the Virgin Islands to establish units of local governments, including Municipal government.