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BILLS TO AMEND THE CENTENNIAL TREASURES AWARD, ESTABLISH A BUREAU OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE FUND, AND EXPAND MEMBERSHIP TO THE FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF NEW YORK ADVANCES Close About Us History Functions and Structure FY 2026 Budget Honor Roll Rules of the 36th Legislative Youth Advisory Council Application Careers Archives Legislative Archives Tours × St. Thomas Senators  St. John Senators  St.Croix Senators  Districts All Senators St. Croix St. Thomas - St. John Senator at Large × Committees Committee of the Whole Budget, Appropriation and Finance Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning Economic Development and Agriculture Education and Workforce Development Government Operations, Veteran Affairs and Consumer Protection Health, Hospitals and Human Services Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications Rules and Judiciary Session Folder × No event found! Calendars Bi-Weekly Senate Calendar Session Agenda × Dialog window Dialog window General Senators Committees Media Calendars Contact BUDGET, APPROPRIATIONS AND FINANCE | News | Press Releases | Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory | Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff | Senator Javan E. James Sr. | Senator Marvin A. Blyden | Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. | Senator Ray Fonseca | Senator Samuel Carrión BILLS TO AMEND THE CENTENNIAL TREASURES AWARD, ESTABLISH A BUREAU OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE FUND, AND EXPAND MEMBERSHIP TO THE FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF NEW YORK ADVANCES Published: Apr 5, 2023 Search for: ST. THOMAS—Members of the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, chaired by Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory, met today in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chambers. Members of the Committee voted favorably for several measures, including Bill No. 35-0050 – The Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance Act. The bill amends the Virgin Islands Code, title 3, chapter 7, by designating the existing provisions as subchapter I and adding a subchapter II establishing the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance within the Virgin Islands Department of Education for budgetary purposes; amending Title 33, Chapter 111, Section 3092a, changing the Education Maintenance Fund to the School Construction, Maintenance, and Capital Fund; and making an appropriation of $2,500,000 from the Virgin Islands Education Initiative Fund to the School Construction, Maintenance, and Capital Fund and for other related purposes. The bill was proposed by Senators Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Marise C. James, Angel Bolques, Jr., and Marvin Blyden. Senator Frett-Gregory, who worked on the bill for over five years, stated that it is critical that students and staff be in a safe and secure school environment. “Ask yourselves, how many times do we pick up the newspaper and see teachers and union leaders protesting about school conditions? Ask yourself, are we ok with that? Are our children not good enough for us to give this the attention it deserves? We must plan ahead and not wait for natural disasters to strike to develop plans. Here it is we are building new schools with no preventative maintenance plan in sight.” Bill No. 35-0054 seeks to amend the Centennial Treasures Award statute to provide for a single $5,000 award payment. Currently, the Department of Human Services (DHS) awards $4,000 to residents who live to be 100 years old. After death, an additional $1,000 is awarded for the recipient’s burial. According to written testimony submitted to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands from DHS Commissioner Kimberly Causey-Gomez, she expressed support for the measure. Primarily, this is due to several instances in which DHS was unable to provide the additional $1,000 for the recipient’s burial expenses in a timely manner. The sponsor of the bill, Senator Dwayne DeGraff, noted that it is beneficial to provide a lump sum payment to the centenarian to utilize funds while still alive. Senator Frett-Gregory mentioned that it is important to establish a registry for centenarians as well as ensure a dignified funeral is provided once they pass on. Senators voted and approved: Bill No. 35-0026 – An Act amending Title 22 of the Virgin Islands Code relating to insurers becoming members of a Federal Home Loan Bank and matters relating thereto. The measure seeks to provide advances to insurance company members. Senator Frett-Gregory is the bill sponsor. In support of the measure, Alexis Sornoza, Senior Business Development Officer for the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, shared the benefits of the bill. Some of the pros of the bill include establishing a process for FHLBNY to act as a resource in rehabilitating an insolvent insurance company, FHLBNY provides low-cost liquidity to financially troubled insurance companies, and FHLBNY will act as a regulator of domiciled and troubled insurance companies. Bill No. 35-0054 – An Act amending Title 1 Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 7, Section 103b, relating to the Centennial Treasures Award, to provide for a single lump sum award payment. Separately, lawmakers passed bills to amend the Centennial Treasures Award and to provide memberships for insurers at the Federal Home Loan Bank. All approved measures on the agenda were forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further consideration. The following senators attended the meeting: Donna A. Frett-Gregory, Marvin A. Blyden, Samuel CarriÏŒn, Diane Capehart, Javan E. James, Sr., Kenneth L. Gittens, Ray Fonseca, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., and Dwayne M. DeGraff. Find More Search for: Categories News Observances Press Releases Special Events Related Content COMMITTEE REVIEWS FY 2027 EXECUTIVE BUDGET REQUESTS FOR GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, AND BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES July 23, 2026 ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Members of the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, chaired by Senator Novelle E. Francis Jr., met in the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room to receive testimony on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budgets for... Read More COMMITTEE RECEIVES UPDATES FROM WASTE MANAGEMENT CONCERNING SEWAGE HEALTH RISKS, CANCER CARE IN THE TERRITORY                                   July 22, 2026 ST. THOMAS, VI – The 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands’ Committee on Health, Hospitals, and Human Services, led by Senator Ray Fonseca, met at the Earle B. 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