USVI Senators, GERS Officials Meet with Federal Representatives in Washington, D.C.

Virgin Islands legislators and Government Employees’ Retirement System officials were in Washington, D.C., with Congressional Delegate Stacey Plaskett to present the territory’s concerns to members of the powerful Ways and Means Committee this week, Plaskett’s office said late Wednesday.

The private meetings covered expiring 2017 tax cuts, rum cover-over shortfalls, Supplemental Security Income, excise taxes, customs, tax incentive programs, and more, Plaskett’s office said.

Postponing a Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications committee meeting originally scheduled for Wednesday, Sen. Marvin Blyden called the meet up an emergency.

The Virgin Islands delegation includes GERS Chairman Dwane Callwood, GERS Administrator Angel Dawson, Senate President Milton Potter, Blyden, Sen. Novelle Francis Jr., and Sen. Kurt Vialet, Plaskett said. They met with a bipartisan group of influential House of Representatives members, including Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas), Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Illinois), Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nevada), Tom Suozzi (D-New York), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania).