On Emancipation Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Delegate Stacey E. Plaskett and Congressman James Moylan of Guam announced in a statement the introduction of bipartisan legislation to establish a Congressional Task Force focused on voting rights for U.S. citizens living in the territories.
The proposed legislation calls for a 15-member task force made up of appointees from both the U.S. House and Senate to study and report on the barriers to voting rights and representation for more than 3.5 million Americans residing in U.S. territories. The task force would be disbanded after issuing its final report to Congress, according to the statement.
“This is a critical step toward addressing one of the most glaring inequities in our democracy,” Plaskett said in a statement Thursday. “More than 3.5 million Americans living in U.S. territories are denied the fundamental right to vote for President and lack full representation in Congress.”
Plaskett emphasized the significance of announcing the legislation on July 3, Emancipation Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands — the date in 1848 when enslaved people in the then-Danish West Indies won their freedom. “The timing of this announcement honors the historic significance of July 3, 1848 … marking a pivotal moment in the fight for equal rights and representation,” she said.
Moylan noted that despite their lack of voting rights, residents of the territories serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at disproportionately high rates. “Yet, we cannot vote for our Commander in chief, nor vote in the House of Representatives, nor have our voices heard in the Senate,” he said.
The task force would be charged with submitting a status update to Congress within 180 days of the bill’s enactment and delivering a final report within one year. The report would assess existing barriers to voting and recommend paths to full and equal representation. The task force will have the authority to hold hearings, consult with territorial governments, and use existing congressional resources to complete its mandate, the statement said.
“We cannot continue to accept second-class citizenship for Americans based solely on their geographic location,” Plaskett said.
She concluded by thanking Moylan for coleading the bill and called on congressional colleagues to join their effort “to ensure that all Americans have a voice in their government, regardless of which territory or state they call home.”