Sentence:  The term `` State '' means the several States , the District of Columbia , the Virgin Islands , Guam and Puerto Rico ; the term `` United States '' includes the several States and the District of Columbia , and excludes the Virgin Islands , Guam and Puerto Rico , and , <WSD>prior</WSD> to 1962 , Alaska and Hawaii . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  earlier in time