Political Quotes

“This week I was pleased to introduce legislation to adopt the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands and its amendments as the constitution of the Virgin Islands of the United States. My legislation provides for the adoption of the Revised Organic Act, as it has been approved by Congress, signed into law, and amended, as the constitution of our territory. While the Revised Organic Act presently serves as the main governing document of the Virgin Islands, we have been unable to enact changes on a territorial level. If the Revised Organic Act and its amendments are adopted as the constitution by Federal law, it would then free the Virgin Islands to make further amendments without congressional engagement or approval. As such, my legislation includes an amendment process to allow the Virgin Islands to revise the constitution once adopted. In May of 2020, the Virgin Islands legislature passed bill 33-0292, which included a referendum on the general election ballot on calling a constitutional convention to adopt the Revised Organic Act. This proposal was approved by 72 percent of people voting on this measure. There is a clear public preference for the adoption of a constitution for the Virgin Islands. My legislation enables a base constitution to be enacted and a local process for self-determination and a level of autonomy in our constitutional maturation.…”