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Committee Deadlocks on Bill Requiring ‘Made in the Virgin Islands’ Materials for Public Contracts
Summary
Legislation to require locally manufactured construction materials on locally and federally funded contracts failed in committee after agency witnesses raised federal‑compliance and capacity concerns; sponsors said they will amend the bill.
The Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection deadlocked Sept. 22 on bill 36‑0102, a proposal to reenact section 236(b) of Title 31 so that government contracts using local or federal funds must, "to the greatest extent practicable," use construction materials manufactured in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Sponsor Senator Marvin Blyden framed the bill as an economic‑development tool to create jobs, strengthen local supply chains and reduce import leakage. “If our people can produce a construction material that meets quality standards and a competitive price, they should have access to that market,” Blyden told the committee.
Nut graf: Agency witnesses — particularly the Departments of Property…
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