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 commemorative stamp commemorating the 100th Anniversary 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 Denmark 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 


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•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 commerce 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 commemorated annually by holding ‘‘Transfer Day’’ ceremonies 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 European 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 Denmark Vesey and acting as Secretary of the Treasury of 


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•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, William 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 foreign investment, increasing levels in maritime and information 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 diversity; 

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 Islands 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 territory is under the jurisdiction of the president of the 

United States of America and residents are American 

citizens: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 


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•HRES 291 IH 

1 (1) the Postmaster General should issue a com2 memorative postage stamp commemorating the 

3 100th Anniversary of the Virgin Islands becoming a 

4 part of the United States; and 

5 (2) such stamp should— 

6 (A) be issued in the denomination used for 

7 first-class mail up to 1 ounce in weight; 

8 (B) bear such illustration or picture as the 

9 Postmaster General determines; and 

10 (C) be placed in sale at such time and for 

11 such period as the Postmaster General deter12 mines. 

Æ 


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