[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 152 (Friday, December 12, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1810-E1811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVING IN CONGRESS FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 11, 2014

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, Like several members before me, as I 
prepare to depart, I rise to address this body in which I

[[Page E1811]]

have had the honor and privilege of serving for the past 18 years.
  I thank God for His grace and guidance and for keeping me fit of mind 
and body, so that I could faithfully serve my constituents and our 
country.
  I thank my constituents, the people of the Virgin Islands for their 
overwhelming support at every election from 1996 through 2012, and for 
their advice, counsel and their prayers during my tenure.
  I thank the leadership under whom I have served--Republican and 
Democrat--for their support of legislation and the concerns of the 
people of the Virgin Islands. But I especially thank my Democratic 
leaders for their unwavering support and advocacy on my and my 
constituents behalf.
  Special thanks to the leaders and the members of the Congressional 
Black Caucus from the first Chair Maxine Waters, all the way to our 
most recent Chair Marcia Fudge and all in between.
  I have been successful in my ability to represent my district and to 
contribute to their health and wellbeing and that of all of the people 
of this country and beyond, because of their overwhelming support.
  Being named as Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust gave me a national 
platform that allowed a non-voting member, from a Territory that many 
members could not locate on a map, the opportunity to influence not 
only local but national policy. And I thank the leaders and members of 
our TriCaucus partners--the Hispanic and Asian Pacific Caucuses--and my 
fellow Delegates for their support as well.
  And above all I thank the very best staff anyone could ask for. 
Without them I could not have accomplished anything and my family who 
sacrificed so that I could serve.
  In these 18 years I served on several committees: Natural Resources 
where I was a Ranking member on the Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee 
and chair of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Wildlife, Oceans and 
Fisheries; the Committee on Small Business, the Committee on Homeland 
Security and finally with the Support of the CBC, I became the first 
delegate ever to serve on the exclusive Committee on Energy and 
Commerce. I particularly thank Chairwoman Fudge, Assistant Leader 
Clyburn and Leader Pelosi for that honor.
  I have been blessed to serve in interesting times and during the 
terms of three presidents--Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama.
  Even without a vote I participated in discussions on every major 
issue in these 18 years both in Congress and in each White House.
  And I have been fortunate with the help and support of the many who I 
have thanked to have been able through increased rum cover over funds, 
forgiveness of disaster loans, enabling borrowing and helping to ensure 
territories were included in the recovery act to help stave off what 
would have been a far worse impact from the national and global 
recession.
  My staff and I were able to increase funding for roads and provide 
new funding for wastewater treatment systems and other infrastructure 
repair. First responder funding reached unprecedented highs.
  And even though we were unsuccessful in our efforts to get state like 
treatment for the territories in the Affordable Care Act, I count as 
one of my most important legacies is the fact that working with my 
TriCaucus colleagues I was able to include many provisions for us that 
will enable coverage, service and protections for the four and a half 
million of us, as well as health equity and other provisions that 
benefit all Americans.
  I had the privilege of working with others to create and maintain the 
Minority AIDS Initiative, to improve Ryan White, to expand the 
Children's Health Insurance, and to create the National Institute on 
Minority Health and Health Disparities at NIH.
  There is more, but most of all I am proud of the individuals and 
families we have helped in our district and Washington offices.
  We helped resolve immigration, veterans, military, TWIC card, VICORP, 
social security, and Homeland Security issues, some involving saving 
jobs or getting them thousands of dollars they were owed. We were not 
100% successful, but we always pursued the issues on behalf of our 
constituents to the nth degree.
  So again to everyone who voted for me, who supported my efforts and 
who helped to provide the tools for a better life for the people of the 
Virgin Islands, thank you.
  I will forever be grateful to all of you and will always consider it 
the highest honor to have been able to serve the people of the U.S. 
Virgin Islands and my country for 18 wonderful years.

                          ____________________