#TBT: March 13, 2025
On March 13, 2020, Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez announced that the territory reported its first COVID-19 cases. Concerned that the curfew established earlier was not being followed, Vazquez took stronger actions and asked all non-essential businesses and schools...
US and British Virgin Islands leaders meet to discuss maritime policy changes
United States Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr. (D) held a constructive meeting with British Virgin Islands Premier Natalio Wheatley to discuss critical issues impacting the shared maritime economy between the two territories. The meeting focused extensively on...
Pacific territories’ role in national security discussed in US House subcommittee hearing
American Samoa Delegate Amata Coleman Radewagen (R) recently took part in an oversight hearing of the United States House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs regarding the US Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs'...
Making English the official US language can’t erase the fact that the US has millions of Spanish speakers and a long multilingual history
By Daniel J. Olson, Purdue University English should be the official language of the United States, says a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump on March 1, 2025. The move follows the Trump administration’s termination of the Spanish-language version of...
#TBT: March 6, 2025
On March 6, 1977, 93% of Northern Mariana Islands voters ratified the territory's new constitution. Its creation was required by the covenant between the United States and the CNMI. It was drafted at a local constitutional convention in 1976 and became effective in...
Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner criticizes statehood lobbying efforts citing questionable numbers
From the floor of the United States House of Representatives, Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner, Pablo José Hernández Rivera (PDP, D), criticized this week's efforts by the government advocating for statehood in Washington, DC, calling it an unnecessary endeavor that...
US Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan meets with President Trump and fellow governors
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. (D) of the United States Virgin Islands recently met with President Donald Trump and fellow governors at the White House to discuss shared priorities and opportunities for collaboration between state and federal governments. Among the key...
Northern Mariana Islands Delegate King-Hinds joins Congressional Hispanic Conference in urging Speaker Johnson not to cut essential program funding
Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R) of the Northern Mariana Islands recently joined members of the Congressional Hispanic Conference in writing a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R) voicing concerns regarding possible funding decisions from the United States...
#TBT: February 20, 2025
Tropical Cyclone Vicky on February 20, 2020, which brought rain and strong winds to Samoa and American Samoa.
US Virgin Islands Governor Bryan pushes for permanent Rum Cover-Over, refinery reopening, and Visa Waiver Program at 2025 IGIA meeting
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. (D) continued his administration’s ongoing efforts to advocate for the United States Virgin Islands at the 2025 Interagency Group on Insular Areas (IGIA) meeting, using the platform to highlight key policy priorities, including the permanent...
