"Our government teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy".

— Associate Supreme Court Justice

 Louis D. Brandeis

GOP supports the U.S. Virgin Islands!

Republican President Donald J. Trump and other GOP nominees up and down the ballot campaigned on a platform that included providing much-needed support to American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“All Americans must be able to enjoy the full benefits of their citizenship,” said National Committeeman Williams, who serves part-time in the Army National Guard. “For too long, Washington has ignored Americans in the territories, a disproportionate number of whom have worn or wear the uniform defending the freedoms and liberties that define us as Americans, including basic constitutional rights that are wrongly denied to them.”

The platform’s position on American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands reads as follows:

Throughout the history of our nation, the patriotism exhibited by our brothers and sisters in the territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico has often gone unacknowledged.

Year after year, the citizens quietly, without fanfare, send their sons and daughters into the U.S. armed services. We honor the extraordinary sacrifices of the men and women of the territories who protect our freedom through their service in the U.S. armed forces.

Geographically, the territories and commonwealths, especially those in the Pacific, are of vital importance to our national security as the outermost line of defense and gateway to America against potential encroachment by foreign powers. We welcome their greater participation in all aspects of the political process and affirm their right to seek the full extension of the Constitution with all the rights and responsibilities that it entails.

U.S. Territories have been neglected far too long!

We recognize the challenges facing all the U.S. territories in an era of dramatic global economic change. They need venture capital to retain existing industries and develop new ones. A stronger private sector can reduce dependence on public employment and lead toward self-sufficiency. Their development of local energy options will be crucial to reduce dependence on costly imported fuel.

The territories’ economic stability and the potential for growth must be considered in any trade agreements between the United States and other Pacific nations. They should be given flexibility or exemption from laws that increase costs for their populations, such as the minimum wage and the Jones Act concerning shipping. All unreasonable impediments to their prosperity should be removed, including unreasonable U.S. customs practices.

We call for the appointment of a commonwealth and territories advisory committee consisting of representatives from all five U.S. territories. The committee will be integrated into the president’s transition team and be tasked with performing a holistic review of all federal regulations affecting the territories and commonwealths. We further call for the appointment of a special assistant to the president responsible for day-to-day interaction with the territories and commonwealths. This position will be the direct connection for the Office of Insular Affairs, the citizens of the territories and commonwealths, and the White House.   

I would like to thank those patriots who have encouraged and supported my vision from the very start. I want you to know this, I remain steadfast in my commitment to our goal of restoring what God and our Founders intended for this exceptional nation.

Again, thank you for your support. I will never forget you, and I hope we'll be able to work side by side for years to come.