[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 171 (Tuesday, November 19, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H6085]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





               SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

  (Ms. PLASKETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate two of the 
Virgin Islands' students on their accomplishments in the Florida-
Caribbean Cruise Association Essay Contest, which gives youths 
throughout the Caribbean the opportunity to advance their scholastic 
endeavors.
  I am immensely proud of these students for their unique perspective 
on how to promote sustainable cruise-line tourism.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Ms. Rachel Guzman Ramirez on her first 
place in the senior division, and Mr. Tyler Ian Antonio Chung for his 
second place in the junior division.
  One of the Virgin Islands' economic mainstays is tourism, which is 
heavily impacted by the cruise ship industry. In the 2023-2024 season, 
cruise tourism contributed more than $258 million to the Virgin 
Islands' economy.
  It is imperative that we in Congress continue to support sustainable 
tourism that accounts for climate change, community investment, and 
environmentally friendly practices so that the Virgin Islands can 
continue to be America's paradise, and we can compete with other 
Caribbean islands.

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