Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett, a member of the House Ways and Means and Budget Committees, released the following statement on President Biden’s Budget for Building a Better America:
“President Biden’s Budget reflects three important values: fiscal responsibility, safety and security at home and abroad, and an unwavering commitment to building a better America. I am pleased that the president’s budget also includes critical investments to help build a better Virgin Islands, with much needed improvements for the Virgin Islands in federal funding parity in Medicaid and equal access to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The actual language included in the budget document clearly delineates President Biden’s support for eliminating Medicaid funding caps for our territory and finally providing the opportunity for the Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories to participate in the SSI program.
“Additionally, the budget recommends $107 million for assistance to small U.S. territories (other than Puerto Rico) from the Department of the Interior, a $3.4 million dollar increase over the current funding level, as well as $4 billion dollars nationally, a $225 million dollar increase from the 2021 enacted level, for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the House Budget Committee to advance the measures proposed by President Biden on behalf of our territory and our nation.”
