Del. Plaskett Issues Statement on $56 Million FEMA Grant for Virgin Islands

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- Del. Stacey Plaskett, D-Virgin Islands, a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following statement regarding a $56 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to go towards emergency protective measures for the Virgin Islands:

"Today, I am pleased to announce an important grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant is for $56,014,051.50 in federal funding to V.I. Housing Authority.

"This grant money will insure that the Virgin Islands will be able to save lives, protect public health and safety, and prevent damage to public and private property before, during, and after a disaster occurs.

"This important grant will benefit the Virgin Islands tremendously with our ongoing rebuilding efforts making the Virgin Islands whole again after experiencing two devastating hurricanes.

"The United States government and the international community has an obligation to work with the affected local governments to restore infrastructure, provide critical humanitarian assistance, and help recover and build back our islands."