Stacey Plaskett

By their mere geography, the territories are critically vulnerable to natural forces unique to daily living in an island environment.

The territories continue to suffer from high unemployment.

As a result, it is more difficult for the islands to improve economic conditions.

Importantly, this legislation will serve as a statement of the commitment from the Federal government to address some of our most pressing local needs.

Robust infrastructure development... is foundational for rural viability.

The program provides essential funding for families in my district to fill in the gap of private market.

We desperately need more from them.

The assistance from Rural Development is very important.

The Virgin Islands are particularly in need of broadband infrastructure.

The cooperation and the co-ops are going to be really key.

What support can these programs give to the diversification of crops here in the United States to sustain farmers who are not operating on huge, enormous tracks of land?

I was really interested in the discussion you have about the Farm Credit's mission in rural infrastructure.

But we can, we are Members of Congress, we always have an opinion. I don't know why you don't have one.

I mean, I just find this, you know, heartbreaking because this really correlates to so much of what's happening in my own community and in most communities, minority communities, underserved communities, where people are dying of…

I can't believe that the Department of Interior wants children to be in these positions of, you know, going to school and in environments like this.

We know that they did fix it. We don't have any information regarding the medical situation for those individuals, but it's certainly not a condition that we want our schools to be in.

So with seeing that there--what would be the thing that would allow for these, not just the inspections to be done and not just us shining a light on them, but actual movement in terms of improvement for children and the environment in…

It appears that not only are the children not being properly educated, but they're being placed in harm's way with outdated and deteriorating equipment and infrastructure.

I am asking my Republican colleagues to join me in requesting that the President immediately lift the hiring ban

Tribal concerns are often underrepresented, and I'm glad that we're dedicating a hearing to address these issues and finding solutions.

We did. There are some additional conversations that we need to have, but I know that our time has drawn nigh.

I thank Mr. Veasey. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence), who is my classmate and one of my very good dear friends.

It would be great to know in that process, one, who the decisionmaker is, and is there a list of individuals who are under FBI investigation.

An active FBI investigation would raise some eyebrows.

According to multiple reports, several members of the Trump campaign and incoming Trump administration may currently be under FBI investigation for their connections with the Russians.