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IV 114TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 291 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should issue a commemorative stamp commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the purchase of the territories known as the Virgin Islands of the United States. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 2, 2015 Ms. PLASKETT submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should issue a com- memorative stamp commemorating the 100th Anniver- sary of the purchase of the territories known as the Virgin Islands of the United States. Whereas, on March 31, 2017, the Virgin Islands of the United States will celebrate 100 years as a possession and part of the union of the United States of America; Whereas the United States of America purchased from Den- mark for twenty-five million ($25,000,000) U.S. dollars in gold the islands of the Danish West Indies within the Caribbean Sea now known as the Virgin Islands of the United States for geopolitical, military, and economic VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 03, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR291.IH HR291 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 291 IH protection and expansion of the United States interest in the Caribbean region; Whereas such purchase was the culmination of a half-century of interest by the United States of American with the Danish Government for the islands as an easterly point to the United States, an important part to the region having served as the hub of Western hemisphere com- merce in the region for several centuries, and serving a crucial role in naval military activity in the Caribbean Basin; Whereas the transfer of the Danish West Indies to the United States took place on March 31, 1917, and is com- memorated annually by holding ‘‘Transfer Day’’ cere- monies in the Virgin Islands of the United States; Whereas the people of the Virgin Islands of the United States include but are not limited to the descendants of Euro- pean immigrants, enslaved Africans, native inhabitants, and people from other Caribbean islands, South America, and the continental United States; Whereas through the arts, politics, and intellectual discourse, though small in size, the Virgin Islands of the United States continue to contribute and positively participate in the rich fabric of the United States while cherishing its unique and rich Caribbean history and culture; Whereas the contribution of the Virgin Islands of the United States includes but is not limited to serving as drafters, soldiers, and patriots of the new Nation through notables such as Alexander Hamilton, leadership for both sides of the great question of slavery and race in the new Nation, by leading slave revolts through individuals such as Den- mark Vesey and acting as Secretary of the Treasury of VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 03, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR291.IH HR291 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 291 IH the Confederate States in the person of Judah Benjamin, serving as explorers and entrepreneurs of the United States through United States Senator David Yulee of Florida and one of the founders of San Francisco, Wil- liam Leidesdorff; Whereas, as the Virgin Islands of the United States enters its next century of inclusion the great country, it will have continued relevance in the region as issues of for- eign investment, increasing levels in maritime and infor- mation technology, and commerce grow in the region, and Caribbean nations look to the Virgin Islands of the United States as the physical example and influence in the region of American thought, economic leadership, and sophistication; Whereas the Virgin Islands of the United States will use this anniversary to commemorate history, culture, and diver- sity; Whereas Virgin Islanders have served the United States in every war and conflict since the Revolutionary War and have contributed to every facet of history and life of the United States; Whereas 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Is- lands becoming a part of the United States; and Whereas issuing a postage stamp commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Virgin Islands becoming a part of the United States is fitting and proper because today the ter- ritory is under the jurisdiction of the president of the United States of America and residents are American citizens: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep- 1 resentatives that— 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 03, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR291.IH HR291 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 291 IH (1) the Postmaster General should issue a com- 1 memorative postage stamp commemorating the 2 100th Anniversary of the Virgin Islands becoming a 3 part of the United States; and 4 (2) such stamp should— 5 (A) be issued in the denomination used for 6 first-class mail up to 1 ounce in weight; 7 (B) bear such illustration or picture as the 8 Postmaster General determines; and 9 (C) be placed in sale at such time and for 10 such period as the Postmaster General deter- 11 mines. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 03, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR291.IH HR291 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS