As we usher in 2018, I would like to take this time to offer you a recap of 2017. In January 2018, it will be a year since I have been elected to proudly represent the U.S. Virgin Islands as National Committeeman on the Republican National Committee (RNC). I am happy to report that significant strides have been made to build and strenghthen our party on both the local and national levels.
As a fairly new member of the Republican National Committee (RNC), I have focused all my energy on establishing and developing working relationships with the 165 members of the RNC.
After the U.S. Virgin Islands were hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, both category five storms, I have traveled to Washington to appeal to the President of the United States, members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in order to stress that the Virgin Islands deserves every dollar they are due in federal hurricane recovery funding.
I recently returned to the territory after spending a week in Washington, where President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence received me. I was invited by President Trump and Vice President Pence to attend Christmas receptions at the White House and Naval Observatory, which serve as their respective official residences. I also attended a reception for national Republican leaders hosted by the French ambassador to the United States.
It was a distinct honor to bring Christmas greetings from the Virgin Islands to President Trump and Vice President Pence, I used the opportunity to thank the President and Vice President for their unwavering support and commitment to Virgin Islanders. While in the nation’s capital, I had well over a dozen meetings on Capitol Hill.
I met with senators and congressmen from across the country, including chairmen of various committees, to stress that the Virgin Islands deserves every dollar they are due in federal hurricane recovery funding.
I also updated members of Congress on my many concerns and will continue to stress that our territory’s recovery will require significant oversight and accountability to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.
My work on the Republican National Committee has been going very well, as a result of my efforts I was able to join forces with Dr. Ada M. Fisher, North Carolina's Republican National Committeewoman and put forth "RESOLUTION of RECOGNITION for the FIRST USA BLACK CONGRESSMEN".
The resolution honors Congressmen Robert B. Elliott, Robert C. De Large, Benjamin S. Turner, Jefferson F. Long, Joseph H. Rainey, and Josh T. Walls and Senator Hiram R. Revels—all of whom were elected from the Southern states after the Civil War. The resolution, which has been adopted, requires the RNC to call upon Congress to call on the U.S. Postal Service to issue a Black Heritage series postage stamp in their honor.
A copy of the resolution can be found here.
My fellow Virgin Islanders, as we all know so very well, Americans in the territories are U.S. citizens, but they do not receive full enjoyment of their citizenship. In addition to being denied both a vote for president and full congressional representation, not all provisions of the Constitution have been extended to the territories.
Back in early August, I introduced my resolution titled, "RESOLUTION AFFIRMING EQUAL CITIZENSHIP FOR ALL AMERICANS" to my fellow Republican National Committee members, which received numerous co-sponsors due to the relationships I've built since being elected. My resolution, which has been adopted, requires the RNC to call upon Congress to ensure that American citizens residing in the territories of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have the unfettered enjoyment of their American citizenship, including but not limited to the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.
A copy of the resolution can be found here.
Friends let me assure you that I remain committed to the growth of our party, and the fight to ensure that we receive the same rights as our brothers and sisters on the mainland.
Should you ever have need of me, please do not hesitate to reach out.
I wish you all a joyous and prosperous new year!
Respectfully,
Jevon O.A. Williams
National Committeeman
Republican Party of the United States Virgin Islands
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