Accomplishments

Healthcare Reforms

  • Provided digital mammography services for the women (and men) of St. Croix by funding the purchase of a state-of-the-art 3D mammography machine at the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital.
  • Required health care providers to perform Congenital Heart Disease Screening (CHDS) within a minimum of 24 hours after the birth of every newborn child in their care.
  • Incentivized medical providers to accept MAP and Medicare in exchange for a reduction in gross receipt taxes.
  • Expanded access to health care through Telemedicine.
  • Expanded the hospital’s ability to hire doctors in specialty areas.
  • Required health insurance companies doing business in the territory to provide coverage for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to promote positive behavior change in children and young adults with autism.
  • Amended the V.I. Board of Medical Examiners statute to add a community member to the board and to remove the SPEX exam to facilitate the licensing process for doctors seeking to practice in the territory.
  • Instituted a moratorium on Certificates of Need to tear down barriers to health care providers allowing for the construction of privately owned urgent care and medical facilities.
  • Expanded the scope of practice for optometrists in the territory.
  • Funded roof repairs and other renovations for Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged to allow it to qualify as a skilled nursing facility and to seek CMS certification.
  • Revised the law governing the Board of Veterinary Medicine by removing barriers to licensure for veterinarians seeking to practice in the VI and by allowing shelters to hire off-island veterinarians for spay and neuter programs.
  • Banned the use of single-use plastic bags.

Mental Health Reform

  • Amended the involuntary commitment laws to assist individuals with mental illness who need care before becoming a danger to themselves and others.
  • Provided funding to repurpose the Anna’s Hope Detention Center into a mental health facility; and funded the acquisition of three mobile mental health units for the Department of Health

Economic Development Reform

  • Directed the Dept. of Tourism and the VI Port Authority to conduct a feasibility study for the development of “The St. Croix Cultural, Historical and
    Ecological Adventure Park” – an economic development initiative with significant potential for economic growth.
  • Extended Economic Development Commission benefits for Small Businesses.
  • Mandated the Department of Labor to create a database to recruit Virgin Islanders living abroad to come back home to work in their chosen fields. This was funded by EDC companies.

Infrastructure Reform

  • Limited WAPA’s ability to back-bill customers, for any billing discrepancies, to 90 days.
  • Mandated that the VI Next Generation Network be headquartered on St. Croix.
  • Appropriated funds for new potable waterlines in downtown Frederiksted.
  • Authorized $250M in GARVEE Bonds for road repairs with a greater share of the funds allocated to the island of St. Croix
  • Required the Department of Natural Resources to characterize and measure emissions/releases from industrial facilities in the Southern Industrial Complex.
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