Federal
Bipartisan Effort Advances Farm to School Act to Enrich Student Diets and Support Local Agriculture
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In a significant bipartisan endeavor, Democratic Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett and her Republican counterpart, Congressman Marc Molinaro of New York, have collaboratively introduced a groundbreaking bill, the Farm to School Act. The essence of this legislation is to markedly enhance the presence of fresh, locally sourced produce in educational institutions throughout the United States. A key proposal of this bill is the augmentation of the Farm to School program’s funding, escalating it from $5 million to $10 million to benefit school-age children.
Highlighting the vital role of this initiative, Congresswoman Plaskett remarked, “The burgeoning interest in Farm to School programs underscores a growing recognition of the interplay between locally sourced foods and the cognitive health of our youth. The Farm to School Grant Program empowers schools, nonprofit entities, and government bodies at local, state, and tribal levels to integrate fresh, locally grown foods into student meals.”
Plaskett further delineated the economic and educational advantages of the program. “The Farm to School Act is a foundational strategy for nourishing our children while revitalizing local economies. Since its inception, this program has funneled over $52 million into diverse projects nationwide, impacting nearly 21 million students across 47,000 schools, including those in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This Act extends the reach of nutritious, local food to millions of students and simultaneously offers an economic boon to our small-scale farmers, ranchers, and fishermen. Teaming up with Congressman Molinaro on this bipartisan legislation underscores our unified commitment to fostering a healthier, more equitable future.”
Sommer Sibilly-Brown, the visionary founder and executive director of the Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition, shared her insights on the program’s transformative impact. She noted, “While Farm to School isn’t a panacea for all the challenges in our food system, it’s a significant positive step. It enhances healthy food access for our youth, supports small-scale farmers and local food economies, facilitates knowledge transfer through innovative learning methods, and strengthens community ties. In the Virgin Islands, Farm to School is seen as a crucial component in building a resilient food system. The federal funding dedicated to this initiative boosts our local food economy and aids in reducing dependency on imported foods.”
Karen Spangler, Policy Director at the National Farm to School Network (NFSN), emphasized the wider community benefits. “Farm to school and farm to early childhood programs address several critical community issues, including children’s health, local economic growth, and educational engagement. The Farm to School Act of 2023 aims to broaden access and provide sustained funding, enabling the grant program to reach a wider array of projects nationwide.”
Hannah Quigley, a policy specialist for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), applauded the bill’s commitment to strengthening local food systems. “Nationwide Farm to School programs are vital in fortifying local food economies, offering nutritious food options, and fostering a health-conscious culture among students. The Farm to School Act of 2023 is a response to the increasing demand from cafeteria managers and farmers to supply top-quality, locally produced food for students. We commend Representatives Plaskett and Molinaro for their dedication to investing in healthy communities.”
Congressman Molinaro also expressed his support, noting, “The Farm to School program represents a dual benefit — it creates economic opportunities for local farmers while ensuring a consistent supply of fresh, nutritious food in our schools. I am honored to be part of this initiative, which seeks to expand the program’s impact through additional investments.”
The Farm to School Act of 2023 is garnering support from key organizations such as the National Farm to School Network and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. For further details and updates on the bill, H.R. 6308, interested parties can follow this link: Congress.gov – H.R. 6308.
Federal
Plaskett’s Bill to Honor Virgin Islands Hero Passes House
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In a notable legislative milestone, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett successfully led the passage of a bill through the House to rename a post office in St. Croix in honor of a distinguished local military figure.
The bill, designated H.R. 5034, proposes renaming the post office located at 2119 Market Square in Christiansted as the “Lieutenant General Samuel E. Ebbesen Post Office.”
Lt. General Samuel E. Ebbesen, a native of St. Croix, is renowned for his extensive military service, business acumen, and community leadership. His illustrious military career includes commanding the First Brigade, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He also served as the commander of the Second U.S. Army at Fort Gillam, Georgia.
Expressing his appreciation for the honor, Lt. General Ebbesen said, “I continue to be humbled by the efforts of Representative Stacey Plaskett and her office to honor my service. Being present to witness us being one step closer to the designation of the Market Square, Christiansted Post Office in my name is truly an honor.”
Ms. Plaskett emphasized the significance of acknowledging Lt. General Ebbesen’s exemplary life and service, stating, “The naming of the Market Square Post Office on St. Croix as the Lt. General Samuel E. Ebbesen Post Office will enshrine his legacy and serve as a testament to the thousands of Virgin Islanders who answer the call to duty in our armed forces. Recognizing Lt. General Ebbesen’s service through this federal building designation is important.”
With its passage in the House, the bill will now move to the Senate for consideration. If approved, it will be sent to President Biden for his signature into law.
Federal
U.S. DOJ Moves to Reschedule Marijuana to Ease Criminal Penalties
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The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that Attorney General Merrick Garland has initiated a process to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This proposed rulemaking, submitted to the Federal Register, could significantly change marijuana’s legal status, reduce federal criminal penalties, and acknowledge its accepted medical use in the U.S.
Marijuana has been a Schedule I drug since the CSA was enacted in 1970. On October 6, 2022, President Joe Biden requested a scientific review of marijuana’s classification. Following recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in August, Garland sought legal guidance from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). Based on HHS’s findings and OLC’s advice, the Attorney General has now begun the rulemaking process to reclassify marijuana.
Rescheduling a controlled substance involves a formal procedure that includes public notice, an opportunity for comment, and an administrative hearing. During this process, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will collect and review public input to make a final determination. Until then, marijuana remains a Schedule I substance.
Historically, marijuana’s classification has faced numerous legal challenges and petitions for rescheduling. Initially classified as Schedule I, marijuana was deemed to have a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and a lack of safety under medical supervision. Despite various attempts to change this status, the DEA has repeatedly denied such requests, adhering to its five-part test for determining a drug’s “currently accepted medical use” (CAMU).
The recent HHS recommendation was based on a two-part inquiry: assessing whether licensed healthcare providers widely use marijuana for medical purposes and whether there is credible scientific support for at least one medical use. HHS concluded that marijuana meets these criteria, supporting its reclassification to Schedule III.
This potential rescheduling raises several legal and regulatory questions. An April 2024 memorandum from the OLC stated that the DEA’s current approach to determining CAMU is too narrow. The OLC asserted that HHS’s two-part inquiry is sufficient to establish CAMU and emphasized that DEA must give significant weight to HHS’s scientific and medical determinations in the rulemaking process.
Additionally, the memorandum addressed compliance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the CSA. It concluded that neither mandates marijuana’s placement in Schedule I or II, and that DEA can meet international obligations by rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III with appropriate regulatory controls.
The rulemaking process will include public participation, with opportunities for comments and a hearing before a final decision. The outcome could change marijuana’s classification, impacting its legal status and medical use availability in the United States.
Federal
Court Decision Paves Way for Integration of Caneel Bay Resort into National Park
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A pivotal ruling from a U.S. Circuit Court judge has mandated the transfer of ownership of the Caneel Bay Resort’s buildings and infrastructure to the U.S. Department of the Interior. This decision enables the National Parks Service to proceed with the redevelopment of the iconic resort.
The legal tussle over the rightful ownership of the property began in 2022, involving EHI Acquisitions LLC and the United States Government. Originating from a unique ownership arrangement crafted between 1977 and 1983, the Caneel Bay Resort was built on a 150-acre tract that was part of a larger 5,000-acre donation to the National Park Service by philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller. While the land was deeded to the National Parks Service (NPS), the buildings remained under the ownership of Rockefeller’s company via a “retained use estate.” This arrangement included an indenture with a reversion clause, offering the government the option to acquire the resort buildings at no cost—otherwise, the land would revert to the resort’s owner.
The legal dispute intensified when EHI, having acquired the retained use estate, claimed full ownership of both the land and resort buildings after the government declined a 2019 offer to assume ownership. EHI interpreted this “offer” as a sales proposition, whereas the government viewed it as a no-cost conveyance.
Judge Cheryl Ann Krause clarified this discrepancy in court, affirming the documents’ explicit intention for the land and improvements to be gifted to the government for a nominal fee of $1, as stipulated in the 1983 indenture. She stated, “To keep the land, the Government would have to accept the offer of the improvements. But if that offer were conditioned on payment, then the Government’s retention of that land, in effect, would also be conditioned on payments…meaning it would no longer be a gift.”
Judge Krause further underscored the non-commercial nature of the transaction, reflecting on the indenture’s clear direction for the integration of the Caneel Bay Resort into the Virgin Islands National Park, aligned with both parties’ philanthropic objectives.
Despite EHI’s arguments that the government intended to spend significantly to re-acquire the resort and their attempt to redefine “offer,” the court found these points unconvincing. Judge Krause dismissed these claims and awarded summary judgment to the United States, confirming that since no valid offer was made by EHI before the expiration of the retained use estate on September 30, 2023, the land’s title remains with the U.S. Government.
This ruling confirms that the government not only retains ownership of the land but also gains title to the resort’s structures, with EHI planning to appeal the decision. This marks a significant step towards the full integration of the Caneel Bay Resort into the national park system, reflecting the original intent of its benefactor.
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