Jan. 6, 2009 — Donna M. Christensen was sworn in Tuesday for her seventh term as the V.I. delegate to Congress, and immediately introduced seven bills to the 111th Congress.
Most striking of the bills was legislation giving U.S. citizens living in the territories federal voting rights, said Christensen, who left the floor of the House of Representatives for an exclusive interview with the Source.
The bill, backed by the Democratic Party, would have had much less of a chance under a Republican-controlled Congress and President Bush.
"The people in the Virgin Islands and probably the other territories are extremely energized on this," Christensen said, allowing that the proposed law was still far from a sure thing. "It's not easy. This is a constitutional amendment. It's a tough haul."
Working with the incoming Obama administration will make passage of laws concerning Virgin Islanders much more likely than under Bush, Christensen said.
"It can only be better for the territory," she said. "Our needs and the White House are very much aligned. It's an exciting time to be in Congress, not only being in the majority, but with the historic president we have."
Both Christensen and Gov. John deJongh Jr. have submitted projects for inclusion in an upcoming economic-stimulus package, she said. One proposal for the package includes legislation creating "health-empowerment zones," Christensen said.
Obama's team wants "to do short-term stimulus, but also set up situations for longterm economic growth," of which health care is a major factor, she said. "After that, it's the hard work of budgeting and getting bills passed and funded."
Detailed information on the voting-rights bill and the other six bills will be released soon, she said.
One of the bills addresses territorial problems with the Food and Drug Administration. Under current laws, territorial pharmacies are blocked from returning unused or expired drugs because the Virgin Islands is outside the U.S. customs zone. Obama supports Christensen's bill reversing the law, she said.
Another bill lifts the 50-50 matching funds required for Medicaid spending in the Virgin Islands.
"It would allow us to spend all our Medicaid funds, even those we can't match," she said.
A fourth bill permanently lifts the cap on rum-tax returns to the territory. Yet another bill requires U.S. Fish and Wildlife to take into account global warming and rising sea-water levels when planning projects.
Christensen said she has more than high hopes for her seventh term: "Not only high hopes, determination to roll up my sleeves and put my nose to the grindstone and do the hard lifting that needs to be done."
Christensen has a good relationship with President-elect Obama, meeting with him frequently in the Congressional Black Caucus, she said. The soon-to-be president is aware of Virgin Islanders' concerns and the two are "pretty much in accord."
Through her new position on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Christensen hopes to shape legislation important to both the territory and the White House.
"It's a very special privilege to be on that committee," she said of the powerful seat. A plan to set up community-advisory boards on energy issues is already underway.
Christensen will be on stage with the rest of Congress as Obama takes the oath of office Jan. 20, and will attend two inaugural parties organized for Virgin Islanders, as well as a third for members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Parties are not her top priority, however.
"I hope I don't have to attend too many others," she said, coughing from a cold she is fighting.
Other Virgin Islanders are clamoring to get to the inauguration. Christensen estimated more than 500 Virgin Islanders have sought tickets to the inauguration from her office.
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