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COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOSPITALS & HUMAN SERVICES The Honorable Ray Fonseca CHAIRMAN 36th Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands Capitol Building, P.O. Box 1690 Charlotte Amalie, V.I. 00804 (340) 693-3577 Email: senatorrayfonseca@legvi.org TO: Honorable Hubert L. Frederick, Vice-Chair Honorable Marvin A. Blyden Honorable Alma Francis-Heyliger Honorable Kenneth L. Gittens Honorable Milton E. Potter Honorable Kurt A. Vialet FROM: Honorable Ray Fonseca _ Chairman, Committee on Health, Hospitals & Human Services DATE: May 12, 2026 RE: AGENDA -Committee Hearing Please be advised that the Committee on Health, Hospitals & Human Services will be conducting a hearing on Monday, June 01, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chambers, on St. Thomas. BLOCK I____________________________________________________________10:00-1:00pm The Committee will receive testimony from the Department of Health regarding the Territory’s mental and behavioral health system, with emphasis on the use of appropriated funds, progress and timelines for facility construction and operational readiness, deployment of behavioral health vans, workforce recruitment and retention, community-based services, and interagency coordination. The Department is also expected to provide a detailed update on equipment and asset disposition from demolished or decommissioned facilities, current nursing shortages and stabilization strategies, and relocation plans for staff affected by ongoing renovation, demolition, or rebuilding projects to ensure continuity of public health services. INVITED TESTIFIERS: The Honorable Justa E. Encarnacion Commissioner Department of Health BLOCK II___________________________________________________________1:45pm-4:00pm The Committee will receive testimony on landfill management practices and soil health across the Territory, with a specific focus on public health impacts. Testimony will examine the effects COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOSPITALS & HUMAN SERVICES The Honorable Ray Fonseca CHAIRMAN 36th Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands Capitol Building, P.O. Box 1690 Charlotte Amalie, V.I. 00804 (340) 693-3577 Email: senatorrayfonseca@legvi.org of waste and vegetation burning and the use of incineration methods on air quality, respiratory health, and vulnerable populations, including associated health risks, regulatory safeguards, and mitigation of harmful emissions. The members will also receive testimony on the state of soil health and its direct relationship to food quality, food security, and overall public health; including the importance of nutrient-rich soil in supporting safe, sustainable agricultural production. Additionally, testimony will address the benefits of composting green waste as a sustainable alternative to reduce landfill burden, enhance soil fertility, and mitigate environmental health risks, along with recommendations for policy, oversight, and sustainable land management practices to better protect the health and well-being of residents across the Territory. INVITED TESTIFIERS: The Honorable Louis E Petersen, Jr. Ph.D. Ms. Dawn Henry, Esq Commissioner, Vice-President & Chief Executive Officer Department of Agriculture Island Green Living Association Dr. Polly Hoppin Mr. Harith Wickrema Research Professor, President, Environmental Health Science and Health Policy Island Green Living Association University of Massachusetts Ms. Judith Enck Mr. Mark Lichtenstein President, Executive Operating Officer, Beyond Plastics SUNY College of Environment Science Mr. Scott Woods Ms. Jane Williams CEO and Founder, Chairwoman, Sustainable Generation Sierra Club National Clean Air Team Mrs. Sommer Sibilly-Brown Dr. Lisa Lewis Founder/President Dean of Nursing, Good Food Coalition University of the Virgin Islands