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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 38 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 38

Recognizing and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Islands 
                 becoming a part of the United States.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2013

 Mrs. Christensen submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to 
   the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
Recognizing and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Islands 
                 becoming a part of the United States.

Whereas on March 31, 2017, the United States Virgin Islands will celebrate 100 
        years of being a part of the United States family, having been purchased 
        from Denmark for $25,000,000 for strategic reasons, one of which was the 
        defense of the Panama Canal;
Whereas the United States Virgin Islands will use this anniversary to 
        commemorate its history, culture, and diversity;
Whereas one of the earliest historical accounts of the Virgin Islands begins 
        with its aboriginal inhabitants on St. Croix who engaged Christopher 
        Columbus on his second voyage to the New World in 1493;
Whereas the 3 largest Virgin Islands, particularly St. Croix, were ruled by 7 
        flags over the 500-year history;
Whereas Denmark began acquiring the islands that were to become known as the 
        Danish West Indies with the founding of its first permanent colony on 
        the island of St. Thomas in 1665, to be followed by the island of St. 
        John in 1717, and the island of St. Croix in 1733;
Whereas in a 250-year span of history, Denmark colonized the 3 islands as a part 
        of the sugar trade which included participation in the Transatlantic 
        Slave Trade and a plantation-based system which continued until the 1848 
        slave rebellion and emancipation;
Whereas the decline of the sugar industry in the Virgin Islands led to Denmark 
        seeking a buyer for the Danish West Indies;
Whereas the United States seeking a strategic base to protect its assets in the 
        Caribbean, to include the newly built Panama Canal, purchased the Danish 
        West Indies for $25,000,000 in gold, through the Treaty of Cession of 
        1917, which confirmed that the civil rights and political status of the 
        inhabitants of the islands would be determined by the United States 
        Congress;
Whereas the transfer of the Danish West Indies to the United States took place 
        on March 31, 1917, with ceremonies on St. Thomas and St. Croix and this 
        ceremony is commemorated yearly in the now United States Virgin Islands 
        as ``Transfer Day'';
Whereas the people of the United States Virgin Islands are descendants of the 
        European colonizers, the enslaved Africans, the aboriginal inhabitants, 
        and people from all over the world, most notably, Puerto Rico, the wider 
        Caribbean, South America, and the United States;
Whereas the Virgin Islands history with the United States began as early as the 
        American Revolution when St. Croix-bred Alexander Hamilton rose to 
        become one of the leaders of the revolution and the first Secretary of 
        the Treasury of the United States;
Whereas St. Croix plantation owner Abraham Markoe was a financier of the 
        American Revolution, and designed the Philadelphia Light Horse Calvary's 
        flag, which may have served as the pattern for the 13 stripes in the 
        present American flag;
Whereas the Danish Fort in Frederiksted was the first military institution to 
        salute the new United States colors, recognizing the independence of the 
        13 former British colonies;
Whereas since the Transfer in 1917, the people of the United States Virgin 
        Islands, have made significant contributions to the United States, 
        including--

    (1) Alonzo G. Moron, President of Hampton University from 1949 to 1959;

    (2) Alton A. Adams, musician and first Black bandmaster of the United 
States Navy;

    (3) Arthur A. Schomburg, bibliophile, historian, curator, and activist 
who researched and raised awareness of the great contributions that 
African-Latin Americans and African-Americans have made to society, was 
known as the ``Father of Black History'', and his collection of literature 
and art is now part of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture 
at the New York Public Library in Harlem;

    (4) Ashley L. Totten, organizer and officer of the Brotherhood of 
Sleeping Car Porters and the leader of the American Virgin Islands Civic 
and Industrial Association of New York;

    (5) Camille Pissaro, artist, french impressionist painter, born on St. 
Thomas of Jewish linage where a royal ordinance made public in Denmark in 
1814, protected and liberated Jews;

    (6) Casper Holstein, humanitarian and philanthropist, dedicated his 
efforts to advocating for improving the standard of living for Virgin 
Islanders and a greater degree of self-government to the islands;

    (7) Claude A. ``Bennie'' Benjamin, musician, composer, and entertainer 
who composed musical themes for several Walt Disney movies;

    (8) Edward Wilmot Blyden, intellectual, educator, linguist, clergyman, 
author, statesman, college president and father of Pan-Africanism;

    (9) Honorable Melvin H. Evans, first elected Governor of the United 
States Virgin Islands and Ambassador to Trinidad & Tobago;

    (10) Honorable Ron de Lugo, first Delegate to Congress of the United 
States Virgin Islands, served 40 years in public service, locally and 
nationally, fought to increase the rights and privileges for territorial 
delegates, while working for the full political status of the Virgin 
Islands, and served as the chairman of the subcommittee on Insular and 
International Affairs;

    (11) Honorable Terence A. Todman, career Ambassador served the United 
States across the globe for almost 50 years and has received the 
Presidential Distinguished Service Award, the National Public Service 
Award, the Department of State's Superior Service Honor Award, Director 
General's Cup, and the Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Award, in 
addition being decorated by the Governments of Argentina, Denmark, Spain, 
Chad, and the United States Virgin Islands;

    (12) Hubert H. Harrison, writer, teacher orator, editor, labor leader, 
and ``Renaissance Man'';

    (13) J. Raymond Jones, politician, power broker, and Tammany Hall 
Chief;

    (14) Morris Simmonds, studied in Germany at the universities at 
Turbingen, Leipzig, Munster, and Kiel, received his medical degree, 
specialized in pathology, and after his death, had a disease of the 
pituitary gland, ``Simmonds Disease'', named after him;

    (15) Nella Larsen, one of the most influential novelists of the Harlem 
Renaissance;

    (16) Sosthenese Behn, soldier, industrialist, business innovator, and 
founder of the International Telephone and Telegraph Company; and

    (17) William Leidesdorff, free Black from St. Croix, sea captain, 
merchant, trader, land owner, civic leader, early California pioneer, and 
regarded as the first Black millionaire in the United States;

Whereas Virgin Islanders such as Calvin Pickering, Elrod Hendricks, Emile 
        Griffith, Horace Clarke, Joe Christopher, Julian Jackson, Kelsey 
        Grammer, Kevin Krigger, Midre Cummings, Raja Bell, Saba Johnson, Tim 
        Duncan, United States Diplomat Ullmont L. James, Sr., Victor Lebron, and 
        others have made substantial contributions to government, sports, and 
        the arts in the United States;
Whereas the mission for self-determination and constitutional reform continues 
        today;
Whereas between 1924 and 1927, several proposed bills for constitutional reform 
        were discussed by congressional committees on insular affairs, though 
        immediate action didn't manifest until the creation of the first Organic 
        Act of 1936 and then subsequently with the Revised Organic Act of 1954;
Whereas the Organic Act of 1936 passed as a result of efforts by David Hamilton 
        Jackson and Rothschild Francis, along with others including Casper 
        Holstein and Ashley Totten, allowing for increased self-government, both 
        this and the Revised Organic Act of 1954 intended to promote the growing 
        political consciousness of Virgin Islanders and to achieve greater 
        economy and efficiency of government, providing the legal base for the 
        political and administrative re-organization of the Virgin Islands;
Whereas this was furthered strengthened report of the 1964 to 1965 
        Constitutional Convention Report which recommended an elective governor 
        and lieutenant governor, the continuation of existing representation, a 
        Resident Commissioner or delegate to the United States House of 
        Representatives, and the right of Virgin Islanders to vote in national 
        elections for the President and Vice President of the United States;
Whereas while efforts in governance continued to evolve over the course of 
        history, it is also important to document social and economic reforms as 
        well;
Whereas after the transfer, the Virgin Islands were administered by the United 
        States Navy and with it came an improved system of social services and 
        higher paying jobs associated with military buildup, and later the civil 
        administration sought to develop the economy through the establishment 
        of homesteading to promote agricultural production;
Whereas after the end of prohibition, rum production flourished and continues 
        today, though agricultural efforts witnessed a decline;
Whereas in its place, tourism emerged as a major economic driver, experiencing 
        substantial growth in the 1950s and 1960s along with investment in watch 
        assembly operations, oil refining, and bauxite processing;
Whereas the material and cultural heritage, in the music of Quelbe, the dance of 
        Quadrille, and in the preserved architecture which was engendered during 
        Danish rule has manifested under United States rule and has added a 
        dynamic addition to the Nation's story;
Whereas the people of the Virgin Islands have a shared historical, cultural, and 
        genetic inheritance linking them to Africa, Puerto Rico, the wider 
        Caribbean, Denmark, and the United States;
Whereas significant hardships were endured by the enslaved Africans during the 
        period of European colonial rule, which precipitated the 1733 revolution 
        on St. John, the successful 1848 Emancipation Insurrection, signed by 
        Danish Governor Peter von Scholten, the 1878 Fireburn on St. Croix, and 
        the 1892 Coal Workers' Strike on St. Thomas;
Whereas by the spirit of resistance, insurrection, and militancy, enslaved 
        African heroes like General Buddhoe, Anna Hegaard, Queens Mary, Agnes, 
        Matilda, ``Bottom Belly'', Coziah, and other leaders, were able to 
        liberate themselves and emancipate the African people;
Whereas Denmark and the United States are two countries united by shared values 
        and a strong commitment to freedom, democracy, human rights, racial 
        justice, economic self-sufficiency, prosperity, free market 
        opportunities, and should continue to provide for more economic and 
        cultural exchanges, trade and investment, and people-to-people contacts;
Whereas these ties continue to be celebrated by a number of organizations such 
        as Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism (C.H.A.N.T), the Danish West 
        Indian Society, Friends of Denmark, Society of Virgin Islands 
        Historians, and the Virgin Islands Social History Associates, among 
        others;
Whereas the Governments of Denmark and the United States Virgin Islands have had 
        discussions regarding establishing a memorandum of understanding in 
        reference to the sharing and preservation of archival records, historic, 
        and prehistoric artifacts;
Whereas there has been ongoing collaboration between schools in the United 
        States Virgin Islands and Denmark allowing teachers and students to 
        share, learn, and strengthen intercultural understandings of a shared 
        history through the creation of new and innovative teaching materials 
        and a common goal to prepare students for global citizenship;
Whereas by sustainable tourism and student exchanges, Danes and Virgin Islanders 
        can become more aware of each other's history and cultures;
Whereas this multicultural, ethnic, national, and racial heritage is an 
        important thread that makes the fabric of all involved, it is 
        particularly important to the future sustainable economic development of 
        the United States Virgin Islands;
Whereas the telling of this portion of the United States story, could be further 
        explored and enhanced by a future National Heritage Area designation;
Whereas the talent, energy, and creativity of Virgin Islanders have nurtured a 
        vibrant society and nation, embracing entrepreneurship, technological 
        advancement, and innovation, and rooted deeply in the respect for 
        education, culture, and international cooperation;
Whereas more collaboration should occur that must transcend the classroom to 
        educate all Virgin Islanders, all United States citizens, and all Danes, 
        well beyond the centennial commemoration in 2017 as education is 
        critical to improving relations, understanding, and the healing process;
Whereas Virgin Islanders and Danish Americans have contributed greatly to the 
        history and development of the United States, and the 100th anniversary 
        of this shared legacy should be properly recognized;
Whereas Virgin Islanders have served the United States in every war and conflict 
        since the Revolutionary War and have contributed to every facet of life 
        in the United States; and
Whereas 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Islands becoming a part 
        of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes and celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 
        Virgin Islands becoming a part of the United States;
            (2) appreciates the years of strong United States-Danish 
        diplomatic relations;
            (3) encourages the Department of the Interior to lead the 
        Federal effort to commemorate this centennial; and
            (4) encourages the Archivist of the United States to 
        cooperate with the Governments of Denmark and the United States 
        Virgin Islands in digitizing the historic records of the Virgin 
        Islands in Federal archives and making them directly accessible 
        to the people of the Virgin Islands in secure research 
        facilities located on all three major Virgin Islands.
                                 <all>
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