U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS \u2013 Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has been appointed to the National Governors Association (NGA) Task Force on Community Renewal during the organization\u2019s 2021 Winter Meeting, which was held virtually on Thursday with keynote speaker President Joe Biden.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Governor Bryan, who will co-chair the task force with Missouri Governor Mike Parson, is the first governor from the U.S. Virgin Islands to co-chair an NGA task force.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
In a statement issued Saturday about the appointment, Governor Bryan hailed it as an important opportunity for the U.S. Virgin Islands and a stepping stone for the inclusion of the insular territories in the policy discussions surrounding the issues confronting communities across the Nation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the other insular territories, are often left out of the important conversations that lead to the reforms and policy changes to which many communities across this country benefit,\u201d Governor Bryan said. \u201cWith this seat at the table, we now have the opportunity to ensure that the unique needs of the U.S.Virgin Islands are heard and ultimately addressed in national policy, especially in the areas of education, rural development and agriculture.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Also serving as members on the task force are Governors Kay Ivey of Alabama; Doug Ducey of Arizona; Jared Polis of Colorado; Greg Gianforte of Montana; Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma; Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania; Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island; Jay Inslee of Washington and Tony Evers of Wisconsin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Community Renewal Task Force has jurisdiction over a broad range of issue areas, including Workforce Development, Nutrition, Education, Criminal Justice, Agriculture, and Broadband.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
NGA has also created task forces on Economic Recovery and Revitalization and Pandemic and Disaster Response to coordinate bipartisan state and territorial efforts to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and lead economic recovery and renewal efforts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The 2021 NGA Winter Meeting featured the nation\u2019s governors discussing their ongoing work to manage the impact of COVID-19, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine distribution equity, and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The Governors also discussed their responses to the winter storms in Texas and climate change.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n