>>> THE VOWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE EXPRESSED BY WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ ♫ OH ♫ ♫ OH ♫ ♫ OH ♫ ♫♫ >>> GOOD DAY, AND WELCOME TO "THE WASHINGTON REPORT WITH WITH CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY PLASKETT".

I´M STACEY PLASKETT AND I´M BLESSED TO SERVE AS THE VIRTUE ISLANDS DELEGATE.

THE WASHINGTON REPORT WAS CREATED TO INFORM VIRTUING ISLANDERS ON -- THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY.

THE SHOW´S BEST GOES WILL RANGE FROM POLITICAL LEADERS TO COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS THEM SHOW IS ALL ABOUT GETTING INFORMATION TO YOU.

THEREFORE I ENCOURAGE YOU TO EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS TO ASK STACEY @MAIL.HOUSE.GOV TO HAVE THEM ANSWERED ON FUTURE SHOWS NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY GUEST FOR THE DAY, NEIL WARE.

NEIL IS A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY AND NONPROFIT LEADER COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING EQUAL RIGHTS FOR AMERICANS LIVING IN THE U.S.

TERRITORIES.

RAISED IN THE U.S.

TERRITORY OF GUAM, NEIL WORKED FOR GUAM DELEGATES MADELYN BARDELLO PRIOR TO ATTENDING YALE LAW SCHOOL.

IN SPRING 2021 HE´S COTEACHING A LEGAL SEMINAR ON TERRITORIES AT COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL.

HE TAUGHT A SIMILAR COURSE IN SPRING 2021 YALE LAW SCHOOL.

OUTSIDE OF HIS TERRITORIAL ADVOCACY, HE ADVISES OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ON A BROAD RANGE OF LEGAL ISSUES.

PREVIOUSLY WORKING AS AN ASSOCIATE AT LOBE AND LOBE LLC.

PRIOR TO FOUNDING EQUALLY AMERICAN, NEIL WAS LITIGATING COUNSEL AND SUPREME COURT FELLOW AT CONSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER.

NEIL CLERKED ON THE ALASKA SUPREME COURT FOR JUSTICE MORGAN CHRISTIAN, AND NOW A JUDGE ON THE NINTH CIRCUIT.

HE WAS ALSO A THOMAS EMERSON FELLOW AT DAVID RAUZEN AND ASSOCIATES IN NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

AS A LAW ASSOCIATE HE ARGUED A LANDMARK CASE BEFORE THE CONNECTICUT SUPREME COURT RECOGNIZING A RIGHT TO ADEQUATE EDUCATION FOR CONNECTICUT SCHOOL CHILDREN.

HIS COMMENTARY HAS APPEARED IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES," CNN, SLATE, AND OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS.

NEIL ALSO COMPETED -- THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE -- IN THE 2004 ATHENS OLYMPICS.

SO, NEIL, IT´S SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY MY PLEASURE, AND THAT WAS A VERY GRACIOUS INTRODUCTION.

I ALWAYS FEEL IN AWE BEING IN YOUR PRESENCE, SO VERY FUN TO BE ON YOUR SHOW TODAY.

>> NEIL, WE´VE KNOWN EACH OTHER A LONG TIME, EVEN BEFORE I WAS IN OFFICE.

WE´VE COLLABORATED ON A LOT OF THINGS, BUT YOU HAVE BECOME THE EXPERT ON TERRITORIAL VOTING RIGHTS, AND I KNOW THIS IS THE THING YOU ARE MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT AND HAVE DEVOTED SO MUCH OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER TO THIS.

SO I WANT TO ASK YOU, HOW DOES THE DENIAL OF VOTING RIGHTS IMPACT THE DAILY LIVES OF VIRTUE ISLANDERS AND OTHER RESIDENTS OF THE TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES?

>> YEAH, IT´S -- THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS SOMETHING THAT AMERICANS HAVE FOUGHT FOR FOR A LONG TIME.

YOU KNOW, SOME AMERICANS LITERALLY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE, LIKE OUR MUTUAL HERO, JOHN LEWIS.

AND IT´S SOMETHING THAT RESIDENTS OF THE TERRITORIES STILL DON´T ENJOY TODAY.

I WASN´T ABLE TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT MYSELF UNTIL THE 2008 ELECTION IN MY LATE 20s WHEN I WAS WORK ON THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN.

PRIOR TO THAT I HAD BEEN A RESIDENT OF GUAM, THEN DISENFRANCHISED EVEN AS WHEN I TURNED 18 I HAD TO ESTABLISH FOR THE SELECTIVE SERVICE.

ALL MALES OF THE TERRITORIES HAVE TO.

IT´S NOT SOMETHING ABSTRACT AS YOU SUGGEST, IT´S SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS THE DAILY LIVES OF PEOPLE IN GUAM AND OTHER TERRITORIES, WHETHER THAT´S THINGS LIKE DISPARITIES IN MEDICAID FUNDING, THE TERRITORIES RECEIVE CENTS ON THE DOLLAR COMPARED TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS FOR THIS CRITICAL FEDERAL PROGRAM.

THERE´S MANY U.S. CITIZENS RECEIVE SOMETHING KNOWN AS SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME, A BASIC INCOME FOR LOWER INCOME FOLKS WHO ARE DISABLED, SENIOR CITIZENS, OR BLIND, TO PROVIDE THEM A BASIC LEVEL OF HUMAN DIGNITY BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

RESIDENTS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, GUAM, AND PUERTO RICO WERE COMPLETELY INELIGIBLE FOR THAT PROGRAM, LEAVING THESE MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS AT THE MERCY OF WHATEVER THEIR FAMILY OR OTHERS CAN PROVIDE FOR THEM.

SO THESE DECISION ARE DECISIONS THAT HAVE LIFE AND DEATH CONSEQUENCES EVERY DAY FOR RESIDENTS OF THE TERRITORIES THAT EVERY OTHER AMERICAN COMMUNITY GETS A SAY IN THROUGH THEIR VOTING REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS, THROUGH A VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, AND THIS KIND OF DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITY LEADS THE POLITICAL BRANCHES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THESE CITIZENS, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS OF VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO PARTICULARLY FELT THAT AFTER HURRICANES MARIA AND IRMA DEVASTATED THEIR COMMUNITIES, LOOKING STATESIDE TO FLORIDA AND THE BENEFITS CITIZENS THERE WERE RECEIVING AND SEEING THE RESPONSIVENESS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHERE AS THERE WERE MANY DELAYS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO, AND IN FACT MANY CITIZENS IN BOTH OF THOSE TERRITORIES ARE STILL WAITING FOR SOME OF THESE BENEFITS TO COME IN AND REBUILDING TO TAKE PLACE AFTER MARIA AND IRMA NOW SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE FACT.

>> IT´S YOUR POSITION THAT THE REASON THERE ARE DELAYS, THE REASON THAT THERE ARE DISPARITIES IN FORMULAS, FEDERAL FORMULAS, ARE BECAUSE WE DON´T HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

YOU BELIEVE THAT´S A MAJOR FACTOR.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT MAKES YOU QUANTIFY THAT?

YOU KNOW, IT APPEARS THAT THAT´S THE REASON, BUT HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY SHOW THAT THAT´S THE REASON WHY THEY AREN´T RECEIVING THOSE THINGS?

>> I MEAN, I THINK IT´S PRETTY CLEAR.

WHEN I WORKED IN CONGRESS IN THE EARLY 2000s, MY BOSS AT THE TIME, MADELYN AND DONNA CHRISTIANSEN INTRODUCED BILLS TO REDUCE THESE DISPARITIES.

THEY WERE FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY FOR THEIR CITIZENS SO THEY COULD ENJOY THE SAME BENEFITS AND RIGHTS AS AMERICANS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

AND I KNOW NOW YOU ARE FIGHTING THAT SAME FIGHT, INTRODUCING LEGISLATION, WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO PUSH THESE FORWARD.

AND WHY HAS IT TAKEN 20 PLUS YEARS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNIZE THESE BASIC QUESTIONS OF DIGNITY, EQUALITY, AND WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS?

AND REALLY THE ONLY COMMON DENOMINATOR WE CAN POINT TO IS THESE ARE CITIZENS WHO ARE DISENFRANCHISED.

THEY DON´T HAVE TO SAME RIGHT TO VOTE AS OTHER COMMUNITIES.

EVEN WHEN THEY´RE AS EFFECTIVE AS YOU ARE AND AS CHRISTIANSEN WAS, THAT CAN ONLY GET SO FAR WITHOUT THE POLITICAL POW THEY ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES ENJOY, REPRESENTATION IN THE SENATE THROUGH BEING ABLE TO VOTE IN THE SENATE FOR HAVING A CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.

ALL THESE THINGS ARE CRITICAL, WHICH SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT YOU HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A VOTE.

IMAGINE A STACEY PLASKETT WHO WAS THE SAME VOTING RIGHTS AS HER COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE.

WATCH OUT THERE.

>> WELL, I THINK ABOUT -- PEOPLE MAY SAY, OH, WELL, IT´S BECAUSE YOU´RE SO SMALL, BUT THEN YOU LOOK AT A PLACE LIKE PUERTO RICO WHICH HAS OVER 3 MILLION RESIDENTS AND THEY STILL HAVE SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES WE HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO FORMULAS AND THE OTHERS.

SO IT´S NOT A SIZE ISSUE.

THE ONLY COMMONALITY WE CAN SAY IS NOT HAVING THAT FULL VOTING REPRESENTATION IN THE HOUSE, HAVING NO SENATORS -- WHENEVER I HAVE LEGISLATION THAT HAS PASSED THE HOUSE, I´VE STILL GOT TO TRY AND FIND -- MUSTER UP SOMEBODY IN THE SENATE WHO´S WILLING TO SUPPORT THIS WHO´S NOT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND EACH ONE OF THE TERRITORIES FACE THAT PROBLEM ALL THE TIME.

>> I GUESS ANOTHER QUESTION I WOULD ASK IS, WHAT HISTORICAL PRECEDENT CAN VIRGIN ISLANDERS AND OTHER RESIDENTS OF U.S.

TERRITORIES LOOK TO IN TERMS OF EXPANDING VOTING RIGHTS?

>> SO, AS I SAID, OUR AMERICAN HISTORY HAS BEEN ONE OF CONTINUAL EXPANSION OF THE RIGHT TO VOTE WHEN THE UNITED STATES WAS FORMED, WHEN THE CONSTITUTION WAS FIRST ENACTED.

IT WAS REALLY ONLY WHITE MALE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ENJOYED THE RIGHT TO VOTE, AND AT THE TIME THAT WAS REALLY PROGRESSIVE, BECAUSE IN OTHER COUNTRIES THEY DIDN´T HAVE THAT.

BUT IT LEFT OUT ENSLAVED PEOPLE, WOMEN, IT LEFT OUT ALL KINDS OF FOLKS WHO TODAY ARE ABLE TO ENJOY THE RIGHT TO VOTE THROUGH THINGS LIKE EXPANDING -- AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION.

SO RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THEY DON´T LIVE IN A STATE, BUT THEY CAN VOTE FOR PRESIDENT BECAUSE OF THE 23rd AMENDMENT.

THE 19th AMENDMENT, EXPANDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR WOMEN.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS EXPANDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE 18 TO 21 YEARS OLD.

THERE´S THIS HISTORY OF EXPANDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS.

YET, THE 3.5 MILLION AMERICANS LIVING IN THE TERRITORIES, WHO NOT CONVINCE DENTALLY ARE RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES, REMAIN DISENFRANCHISED.

AND SO THE QUESTION OF RACE -- AND THIS IS A RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUE -- ARE ABSOLUTELY ANOTHER CENTRAL ISSUE HERE.

>> NEIL, I KNOW YOU HAVE A NEW PERSON IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WITH YOU.

WHO´S WITH YOU RIGHT THERE?

>> SO, THIS IS CORA LOUISE.

SHE´S JUST OVER A MONTH OLD, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A PERFECT TRANSITION TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER REASON PEOPLE ARE DISENFRANCHISED IN THE TWO OF MY STUDENTS AT COLUMBIA SENT ME THIS ONESIE.

I DON´T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE SCREEN.

IT SAYS OVERTURN THE INSULAR CASES.

TWO OF MY STUDENTS SENT ME THAT KNOWING JUST HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

THESE ARE A SERIES OF SUPREME COURT CASES THAT ESTABLISHED THIS DOCTRINE OF SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL STATUS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE TERRITORIES.

DECIDED NOW OVER 120 YEARS AGO AND DECIDED BY THE SAME COURT THAT DECIDED PLESSY VERSUS FERGUSON, GROUNDED IN THE SAME THAT THE UNITED STATES COULD HOLD PLACES LIKE GUAM, PUERTO RICO, AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AS COLONIES RATHER THAN EXTENDED TO THEM FULL COOPERATION.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE ROOT DISCRIMINATION, DISENFRANCHISEMENT THAT RESIDENTS OF TERRITORIES ARE FIGHTING AGAINST, AND DUE NO SMALL PART TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, WE´RE ACTUALLY STARTING TO PUSH BACK AGAINST AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

LAST CONGRESS, THE FIRST EVER CONGRESSIONAL HEARING FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON VOTING RIGHTS.

>> UH-HUH.

>> HELD WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THIS CONGRESS, THE FIRST-EVER HEARING HELD CONDEMNING THE INSULAR CASES.

AGAIN, HELD BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND THESE ARE EXAMPLES WHERE WE ACTUALLY ARE MAKING PROGRESS AND MOVING THESE ISSUES FORWARD IN ALL THREE BRANCHES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT -- I HAVE BEEN WORKING HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE TERRITORIES AND ACTUALLY SOME MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT FROM THE TERRITORIES BUT WHO REALLY BELIEVE IN THIS FIGHT AS WELL, MEMBERS LIKE DARREN SOTO IN FLORIDA, MEMBERS LIKE CONGRESSMAN YVETTE CLARK IN NEW YORK, OTHER MEMBERS WHO REALLY SEE THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN THE TERRITORIES ARE NOT BEING TREATED EQUALLY AND THAT VOTING RIGHTS, AS WELL AS MANY OF THE FORMULAS, MANY OF THE WAYS IN WHICH CONGRESS AND OTHERS TREAT THE TERRITORIES IS UNEQUITIABLE AND HAS ACTUALLY LED TO MANY OF THE FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, RIGHT?

SO IF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAD BEEN TREATED IN THE SAME FEDERAL FORMULAS FOR HIGHWAYS THAT WE HAD IN THE EARLY ´90s WHEN WE WERE TAKEN OUT PRIOR TO THAT, WE WOULD HAVE HAD SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PREPARE OUR PORTS, PREPARE MANY OF OUR ROADS SO THAT WHEN THE STORM SURGE CAME OF HURRICANE IRMA AND HURRICANE MARIA, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN READY.

BUT YOU, NEIL, AND OTHERS LIKE YOU, HAVE REALLY BEEN WORKING ON THE FEDERAL SIDE, PARTICULARLY IN THE JUDICIARY BRANCH, AND YOU HAVE FILED, ALONG WITH EVEN VIRGIN ISLANDERS, I KNOW YOU´VE WORKED WITH NEIL HENDERSON, PAMELA COLON, SAMAJ JOHNSON, SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS BAR ASSOCIATION.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE -- THERE´S BEEN LINKAGES NOW WITH THE NEW YORK STATE BAR, SO TALK WITH US ABOUT THE FEDERAL LAWSUITS YOU HAVE -- EQUALLY AMERICAN HAS FILED ASKING THE COURTS TO RECOGNIZE EQUAL CITIZENSHIP IN U.S.

TERRITORIES.

WHY SHOULD VIRGIN ISLANDERS FOLLOW THESE CASES?

>> THE FEDERAL COURTS OFFER TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY WHERE IT´S ACTUALLY A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD THAT THE ARGUMENTS WE CAN MAKE IN COURT, DOESN´T MATTER WHETHER, YOU KNOW, VOTING REPRESENTATION OR NOT.

YOU CAN STILL MAKE YOUR CASE.

UNFORTUNATELY IT´S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK, YOU KNOW, IN THESE ISSUES GETTING SOME BIG WIND WHILE ALSO HAVING SOME SETBACKS.

>> I LOVE THIS.

THIS IS REAL LIFE RIGHT HERE.

>> YEAH, THIS IS THE REAL DEAL.

>> WHERE´S YOUR SON?

I KNOW YOU HAVE A LITTLE SON AS WELL.

>> HE´S IN DAY CARE.

WE GOT ONE OF THEM TAKEN CARE OF.

MY WIFE´S GOT A DOCTOR´S APPOINTMENT, SO I HAVE MY HANDS FULL TODAY, DON´T I?

>> UH-HUH.

WHAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY INTERESTING WAS WHEN WE FIRST STARTED WORKING ON SOME OF THESE LAWSUITS, WHAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING WAS THE SUPPORT THAT WE GOT FROM SECTORS OF THE LEGAL COMMUNITY THAT ONE COULD NOT HAVE NORMALLY THOUGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF OVERTURNING THE INSULAR CASES OR RECOGNIZING CITIZENSHIP IN U.S.

TERRITORIES, RIGHT?

SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET -- YOU WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH TED OLSON, WHO HAD BEEN THE FORMER SOLICITOR GENERAL IN THE BUSH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

HE WAS THE LEAD ATTORNEY SUPPORTING THESE CASES AS IT WAS MAKING ITS WAY TO THE SUPPORT.

AND THEN PAUL CLEMENT, HIS SUCCESSOR AS SOLICITOR GENERAL AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, WAS THE PRO BONO ATTORNEY FOR ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO MYSELF, MADELYN FORMER GOVERNORS OF PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, FORMER GOVERNOR JOHN DEYOUNG, FORMER GOVERNOR TURNBULL ALL SIGNED ALONG ON THESE WITH FORMER GOVERNOR CHRISTIANSEN TO SAY, LISTEN, PART OF THE INSULAR CASES SAY THAT THESE TERRITORIES DO NOT HAVE TO MECHANISMS TO FOLLOW DEMOCRATIC LAW, TO FOLLOW DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS PROCEDURES OR EVEN THEIR GOVERNMENTS THEMSELVES ARE A NASCENT YOUNG AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS FROM THE VARIOUS TERRITORIES WERE ABLE TO SHOW THAT, LISTEN, SINCE BECOMING PART OF THE UNITED STATES WE HAVE ALL DEVELOPED INTO THE SAME SYSTEM, THE SAME DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AS THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF IS WE LIVING IN THE TERRITORIES ARE NOT MONOLITHIC PEOPLE.

WE FALL ON BOTH ENDS OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM AND BOTH MAJOR PARTIES.

SO OFTEN WHEN THERE´S A MEMBER IN CONGRESS FROM A TERRITORY, OFTEN TIMES IT´S FOLLOWED THAT THEIR CORRESPONDING GOVERNOR IS SOMEONE OF THE OPPOSITE PARTY AS WELL.

SO WE´RE NOT EVEN OFTEN OF THE SAME PARTY NECESSARILY JUST BECAUSE WE´RE FROM A TERRITORY AND ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF THE TERRITORIES THAT ARE DEMOCRAT AND TWO MEMBERS OF THE TERRITORIES THAT HAPPEN TO BE REPUBLICAN AS WELL.

SO WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE FUTURE OF THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT, AND WHAT LAWSUIT SHOULD VIRGIN ISLANDERS BE FOLLOWING, AND HOW DO WE LEND OUR VOICES?

HOW DO WE SUPPORT THE WORK THAT´S BEING DONE BY YOURSELF AND OTHERS LIKE YOU AT THE JUDICIARY BRANCH AS WELL AS IN CONGRESS?

>> THERE´S TWO BIG CASES RIGHT NOW AT THE SUPREME COURT OR MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT.

THE FIRST ONE, UNITED STATES FIRST VIA MADERO, CAN CONGRESS DISCRIMINATE AGAINST -- BASED SOLELY ON WHERE THEY HAPPEN TO LIVE.

THIS IS A CASE THE SUPREME COURT TOOK UP EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THERE´S GOING TO BE ORAL ARGUMENTS THIS FALL.

THE BRIEFING IS CURRENTLY UNDER WAY.

THE UNITED STATES JUST FILED A BRIEF LAST WEEK IN THE CASE.

DEFENDING THIS ONGOING DISCRIMINATION, EVEN AS PRESIDENT BIDEN ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THIS KIND OF DISCRIMINATION GOES AGAINST THE WHITE HOUSE´S VALUES AND PRINCIPLES.

>> JUST SO YOU KNOW, NEIL, I DID CALL THE WHITE HOUSE AND WAS LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING?

YOU HAVE A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THAT´S UPHOLDING WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN BELIEVES TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN TERMS OF PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES WHEN THEY MOVE TO THE TERRITORIES NOT HAVING THEIR SSI, AND IN FACT, THE PRESIDENT EVEN IN THE PRESIDENT´S BUDGET HE SENT DOWN STATEMENTS SAYING THAT HE BELIEVES AND HIS ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES THAT SSI SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO THE TERRITORIES.

AND THEN YOU HAVE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL AND A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THAT FILED THE BRIEF THAT IS AGAINST EXPANDING SSI OR FOLLOWING THE LOWER COURTS, WHICH HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO NOT HAVE SSI IN THE TERRITORIES.

IT WAS JUST CONFUSION TO ME.

>> YEAH, IT WAS VERY CONFUSING AND SHOWS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE NOT JUST IN THE COURTS BUT REALLY ALL THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

AND IN TOMORROW FORMS OF PUSHING BRANCHS OF GOVERNMENT.

I APPLAUD YOU FOR PUSHING THE ADMINISTRATION AND PUT THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE.

IT´S GREAT TO SEE THEM COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE PUSHING LEGISLATIVE FIXES THAT YOU´VE INTRODUCED OR COSPONSORED.

BUT THE WHITE HOUSE REALLY NEEDS TO SHOW THAT PRIORITY AS A REAL ONE AND BRING THESE ISSUES ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, WHICH IN THIS CONGRESS IS ALWAYS EASIER SAID THAT BE DONE.

WE´LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT GOES.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE SUPREME COURT CASE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR VIRGIN ISLANDERS AND OTHER RESIDENTS OF TERRITORIES TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

I KNOW A NUMBER OF ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM THE TERRITORIES MAY BE FILING.

SOME OF THE TERRITORIES THEMSELVES MAY BE FILING.

THE VIRGIN ISLAND BAR ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THIS CASE.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY IN ALL THREE BRANCHES.

THE OTHER CASE TO FOLLOW, WHICH ACTUALLY WAS JUST DECIDED LITERALLY HALF AN HOUR AGO BEFORE THIS CALL IS A CASE INVOLVING CITIZENSHIP IN THE TERRITORIES.

SO DO PEOPLE IN -- IF YOU´RE BORN IN A U.S.

TERRITORY LIKE VIRGIN ISLANDS OR GUAM OR AMERICAN SAMOA, DO YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO CITIZENSHIP, OR CAN CONGRESS DECIDE YOU AREN´T A CITIZEN?

WE HAVE PREVAILED ON BEHALF OF OUR PATIENTS IN THE DISTRICT COURT.

UNFORTUNATELY THE TENTH CIRCUIT REVERSED THAT JUST EARLIER TODAY ON A VOTE OF 2-1.

WE WERE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RESULT.

WE´RE STILL REVIEWING THE RESULT, AND WE´LL SEE WHAT LIES AHEAD.

MY BABY CORA, WHO DOES NOT LIKE THE INSULAR CASE, REALLY DOESN´T LIKE IT.

SO WE´RE GOING TO BE SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO TO CONTINUE THIS FORWARD.

THIS MAY BE AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, AND WE´RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING ARGUMENTS IN THAT REGARD, AND SO THAT´S A CASE TO FOLLOW BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT´S POSITION IS THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU´RE BORN IN A TERRITORY, U.S.

SOIL, CONGRESS WITH SAY YOU AREN´T A CITIZEN.

>> RIGHT.

>> CERTAINLY CLEAR MOVING FORWARD, THE CASE UNDER THE ARGUMENT RETROSPECTIVELY, SO IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN A CITIZEN THEIR HOLE LIFE, BORN IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, CONGRESS MAY BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT AWAY.

IT´S VERY DISTURBING.

THIS DISCRIMINATION GROUNDED IN THE INSULAR CASES, GROUNDED IN THIS LONGSTANDING TRADITION.

SO THESE ARE TWO BIG CASES THE VIRGIN ISLANDERS SHOULD BE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO AND PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW THE WHITE HOUSE AND DOJ ENGAGES AND HOW CONGRESS ACTS TO ADDRESS THESE THINGS THROUGH LEGISLATION, BECAUSE -- >> BUT RATHER THAN JUST PAY ATTENTION, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO?

>> I THINK THEY SHOULD WRITE THE PRESIDENT.

THEY SHOULD SUPPORT OUR WORK AT EQUALLY AMERICAN.

EQUAL RIGHTS.ORG.

WE´RE WORKING TO ORGANIZE A BROAD GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY TO NOT JUST ARGUE INSIDE THE COURTROOM, BUT ALSO TO ARGUE THESE ISSUES IN THE POLITICAL BRANCHES.

THE ORAL ARGUMENTS COMING UP IN THE VIA MADERO CASE WE´RE WORKING ON THE DAY OF THE SUPREME COURT.

HAVING VIRGIN ISLANDERS WHO ARE STATESIDE OR ABLE TO SHOW UP, SHOW UP THE DAY OF THE ARGUMENT, HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

LOBBY CONGRESS IF YOU´RE A VIRGIN ISLANDER LIVING IN A STATE.

ASK YOUR CONGRESSMAN TO PASS LEGISLATION, ASKING THEM TO VOTE FOR LEGISLATION.

HAVE THEM CALL THEIR SENATOR TO COSPONSOR LEGISLATION OR INTRODUCE THIS LEGISLATION.

IT´S GOING TO TAKE EVERYONE´S EFFORTS, VIRGIN ISLANDERS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THOSE STATESIDE TO GET THIS THROUGH, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE TIME IS NOW.

THE POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY IS THERE.

WE HAVE THE SUPREME COURT´S ATTENTION.

WE HAVE THE WHITE HOUSE´S ATTENTION, AND I KNOW THAT WITH THE POLITICS IN CONGRESS WITH CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, THE OPPORTUNITIES THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER THEM WINDOW IS PERSONALLY GOING TO CLOSE AT THE END OF THIS CONGRESSIONAL CYCLE, SO WE REALLY HAVE ABOUT A YEAR LEFT, A YEAR AND A HALF LEFT TO GET THIS THROUGH, SO THE TIME IS NOW TO ACT, AND PEOPLE´S LABOR THEY CAN PUT INTO THIS, FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT CAN BE DEVOTED TO THIS, IT REALLY SHOULD BE AN ALL-OUT EFFORT TO PRESSURE ALL THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT TO FINALLY DO WHAT IS RIGHT, FINALLY RECOGNIZE THAT CITIZENS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND OTHER TERRITORIES ARE EQUALLY AMERICAN.

>> WELL, NEIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, AND THANK CORA.

SHE WAS SO GOOD FOR MOST OF THIS.

I WAS TRYING TO WATCH YOUR SHAKING GAME.

YOUR ROCKING GAME.

IT´S PRETTY ON POINT.

YOU´RE PRETTY GOOD.

>> PARENTING TIPS HERE.

YOU´RE A PRO.

>> NO, YOU´RE DOING WELL, AND BLESS YOU AND YOUR WIFE WITH YOUR BABY.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO SUPPORT VIRGIN ISLANDERS AND THE PEOPLE OF ALL OF THE TERRITORIES.

SO FINALLY THIS YEAR WE´LL CONTINUE WITH THE TRADITION OF ENDING "THE WASHINGTON REPORT" WITH SOME WORDS FROM STACEY.

JUNE 1st MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE 2021 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.

WE´VE ALREADY SEEN TROPICAL DISTURBANCES IN OUR TERRITORY.

THIS YEAR THE NATIONAL OCEANIC ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, NOAA FORECASTS WE´LL HAVE AN ACTIVE SEASON WITH 15 TO 20 NAMED STORMS, INCLUDING THREE TO FIVE MAJOR HURRICANES.

AS WE APPROACH THIS VERY CRITICAL TIME, I URGE EACH OF YOU TO START PREPARING YOUR HOME, BUSINESSES, FAMILIES IF YOU HAVEN´T ALREADY.

YOU CAN VISIT MY WEBSITE AS PLASKETT.HOUSE.GOV TO DOWNLOAD OUR CHECKLIST.

IT CONTAINS USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BEST PREPARE FOR THIS TIME.

ALSO, PLEASE UTILIZE THE RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TERRITORIAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.

YOU CAN FIND THEIR WEBSITE AT VITMA.GOV OR ALL THEIR OFFICE AT 340- -- I PRAY GOD´S BLESSING AND PROTECTION OVER US ALL AS WE WALK THROUGH HURRICANE SEASON.

PLEASE USE THE TIME TO PREPARE AND AS ALWAYS, STAY V.I.

STRONG.

AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU WANT ANSWERED ON THE SHOW, IF YOU HAVE TOPICS YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT, PLEASE EMAIL THEM TO ASKSTACEY @MAIL.HOUSE.GOV.

STAY V.I.

STRONG, AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.