Action Item in Support of Full Congressional Representation for the Residents of the United States Virgin Islands

WHEREAS, in 1917 the United States purchased the Virgin Islands from the Danish Government for $25,000,000 for the purpose of naval prevention of the Germans reaching the Panama Canal; and

WHEREAS, this is a classic example of "taxation without representation" and is contrary to everything upon which this nation is founded; and

WHEREAS, more than 80% of the residents of the United States Virgin Islands are (African descendants) African American; and

WHEREAS, residents of the United States Virgin Islands have given their lives for this nation as they served in the United States military, and are required by law at the age of eighteen years to register for the United States military; and

WHEREAS, this inequity means that the United States Virgin Islands population is paying money into a government, but do not have voting representation in the U.S. Senate or in the U. S. House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, this inequity further means that the federal government is receiving and spending millions of dollars without having to account for it.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP strongly support legislation for residents of the United States Virgin Islands providing them with full representation of two voting senators in the U.S. Senate and one voting member of the U.S. House of Representatives; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP urge Congress of the United States to pass this legislation and the President of the United States to sign said bill into law as expeditiously as possible.