Senate President Shawn-Michael Malone was recently asked to serve on the Executive Board of the Council of State Legislatures. The Council facilitates information sharing and collaboration among its members to better address regional challenges in areas including agriculture, education, energy, environment, health care, trade and transportation.
This announcement comes on the heels of his appointment to the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the premier organization representing state governments at the federal level. He is also an executive member of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and recently had an opportunity to introduce three resolutions that the group adopted on behalf of the U.S. Virgin Islands: increased funding for V.I. border protection in order to help stop the flow of weapons, guns and illegal immigration; the restoration of voting rights to the V.I. Delegate to Congress; and the right for Virgin Islanders to participate in presidential elections.
"I have been working with these national groups to solidify support for the Virgin Islands’ concerns to include our full inclusion in federal assistance and benefit programs," Sen. Malone said. "We can’t do this alone, and these national groups provide lobbying power and other resources."