Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. used his final appearance before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday to urge Congress to remove barriers he said limit the U.S. Virgin Islands’ ability to strengthen health care, attract investment, rebuild infrastructure and expand economic opportunities, a Government House press release announced.
Testifying during the committee’s annual State of the Territories hearing, Bryan joined leaders from the nation’s five territories in outlining priorities requiring congressional action. In his eighth appearance before the committee as governor, Bryan called for changes to federal health care funding, tax policy, labor programs and economic development initiatives, according to the press release.
Among the proposals, Bryan urged Congress to eliminate the federal Medicaid funding cap, modernize hospital reimbursement rates, extend Supplemental Security Income benefits to eligible Virgin Islanders, fund U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations through regular federal appropriations, and support a responsible restart of the St. Croix refinery, the press release stated.
He also called for changes to federal tax policies that he said discourage investment, protection for local businesses facing foreign economic actions, and expanded access to the H-2B visa program to help fill skilled labor shortages tied to federally funded recovery projects, the release stated.
“The people of the Virgin Islands are not asking for special treatment,” Bryan said. “We are asking Congress to remove these barriers to guarantee that we have the same opportunities, the same tools, and the same chance to succeed that every American community on the mainland enjoys.”
According to the Government House press release, Bryan reflected on the challenges the territory faced during his administration, including the recovery from the 2017 hurricanes, the COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary shutdown of the tourism industry. He told senators the territory had rebuilt and emerged stronger.
“As I prepare to conclude my service as Governor, I do so with great pride,” Bryan said. “I have watched Virgin Islanders rebuild with the resilience, determination, and patriotism that have always defined our community.”
Bryan argued that federal policies should recognize both the needs and strategic value of the territory. He said American citizens living in the Virgin Islands should have access to the same protections and benefits available in the states, including SSI benefits for elderly and disabled residents, the release stated.
“Their citizenship has not changed. Their circumstances have not changed. Only their address,” Bryan said.
The governor also renewed his call for support of a refinery restart on St. Croix, saying the facility could help strengthen domestic energy security while creating jobs and restoring industrial capacity. He urged lawmakers to revise federal tax rules affecting the territory’s ability to attract investment, the release stated.
“The Virgin Islands is not a foreign country,” Bryan said.
Bryan cited the permanent extension of the rum cover-over rate as an example of what federal-territorial cooperation can accomplish. According to the release, he said the measure provided long-term certainty for a key Virgin Islands industry while supporting infrastructure investments, pension stability and debt reduction, the release stated.
“When the Virgin Islands is given the same tools available to other American communities, we put them to work,” Bryan said.
Closing his testimony, Bryan urged Congress to continue supporting the territory’s development and provide future generations with opportunities to contribute fully to the nation, the release stated.
“All we ask is the opportunity to contribute on equal footing with every other American community,” he said.
