(Washington, DC, January 24, 2007) — The U.S. House of Representatives affirmed the right of delegates from the territories and the District of Columbia to vote in the Committee on the Whole in a 226-191 party line vote. After more than five hours of contentious debate, Democrats, who had first granted territories enhanced voting power in 1992, argued successfully that they would honor their commitment to expand, not limit democracy with the passage of H. Res. 78.

Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen who took to the floor on three separate occasions in support of the resolution mentioned the recent sacrifice paid by members of the Virgin Islands National Guard and their families in asserting the rights of the territories to increased representation in the Congress.  “I am forced to ask on their behalf and on behalf of all of the people of the Virgin Islands who have sent our loved ones to every war from the Revolutionary to this, in higher per capita numbers than most states, why is it that some would seek to deny us an even limited vote in the Committee of the Whole in this body?” the Delegate asked.
                                     
“These brave men died in support of extending democracy in The Middle East. Every member of this body should vote to extend democracy here at home, to support their colleagues and fellow Americans who happen to live in the District and territories and we should have a unanimous vote for H. Res 78,” Christensen said.

“Why then are they insisting that my fellow delegates and I not be given the opportunity to participate in the deliberations on legislation on the floor on behalf of our constituents, which is in keeping with our country’s spirit of inclusion and democratic ideals?” she continued.

Delegate Christensen countered Republican charges that territorial delegates do not pay taxes and should not therefore be afforded the vote.  “When my Republican colleagues bring up the question of payment of taxes, they know well that residents of the territories pay federal taxes,” she said. “We pay full Social Security and Medicare Payroll taxes like every other American.  We also pay the same federal income tax as proscribed by the tax laws that are passed here and which I can’t vote on.”

Delegate Christensen also pointed out the penalties that the territories pay for the return of federal taxes to their treasury.  “Because we get to keep the federal taxes that we pay, we don’t get the full benefit of all federal programs. “We receive less than a quarter of the federal share of the program that we would receive if we were able to fully participate in the program.”

Delegate Christensen and her Democratic colleagues also challenged Republican statements that said that giving the votes to Delegates was unconstitutional. “It does not violate the Constitution,” she said. “We should be given this greater degree of participation in the formulation of the laws that affect the lives of the people who sent us here to represent them.”