Protecting Our Financial Independence
In 2016, Congress created an unelected board to control Puerto Rico’s budget, override local decisions and cut services. This bill would have allowed the same overreach to happen here in the Virgin Islands. Stacey worked hard to get that provision removed and keep important financial decisions in the hands of the local government.
$24 Billion to Rebuild After Hurricanes Irma and Maria
After Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the islands, Stacey changed federal law, fighting to make sure the Virgin Islands could rebuild to meet modern standards, and allowing the Virgin Islands to build back stronger. She secured more than $928 million for the rebuild of Roy L Schneider Regional Hospital, $834 million for the Juan F. Luis Hospital, $4.7 billion for WAPA, and $3.5 billion to build schools.
Getting Farmers the Help They Deserve
For years, the Virgin Islands was excluded from the federal government drought monitoring system, leaving farmers ineligible for disaster relief programs available to farmers across the country. Stacey pushed to change that, leading to the Virgin Islands’ inclusion in 2019, giving farmers the tools they need to react to, prepare for and recover from extreme weather conditions.
$20 Million a Year for Working Families
Through the American Rescue Plan Act, Stacey secured an annual federal reimbursement for the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. These credits return $20 million each year to Virgin Islanders.
Expanding Medicaid, Permanently
Federal law previously reimbursed 55 percent of Medicaid costs in the Virgin Islands. Stacey secured a permanent 83 percent reimbursement, and raised the ceiling on annual Medicaid funding.
Securing the Rum Cover Over
Stacey introduced legislation to make the current rate of $13.25 per proof gallon permanent through 2032. This legislation helped deliver long-term economic certainty for the Virgin Islands.
