Donna M. Christensen

Mr. Speaker, Like several members before me, as I prepare to depart, I rise to address this body in which I

have had the honor and privilege of serving for the past 18 years.

I thank God for His grace and guidance and for keeping me fit of mind and body, so that I could faithfully serve my constituents and our country.

I thank my constituents, the people of the Virgin Islands for their overwhelming support at every election from 1996 through 2012, and for their advice, counsel and their prayers during my tenure.

I thank the leadership under whom I have served--Republican and Democrat--for their support of legislation and the concerns of the people of the Virgin Islands. But I especially thank my Democratic leaders for their unwavering support and advocacy on my and my constituents behalf.

Special thanks to the leaders and the members of the Congressional Black Caucus from the first Chair Maxine Waters, all the way to our most recent Chair Marcia Fudge and all in between.

I have been successful in my ability to represent my district and to contribute to their health and wellbeing and that of all of the people of this country and beyond, because of their overwhelming support.

Being named as Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust gave me a national platform that allowed a non-voting member, from a Territory that many members could not locate on a map, the opportunity to influence not only local but national policy. And I thank the leaders and members of our TriCaucus partners--the Hispanic and Asian Pacific Caucuses--and my fellow Delegates for their support as well.

And above all I thank the very best staff anyone could ask for. Without them I could not have accomplished anything and my family who sacrificed so that I could serve.

In these 18 years I served on several committees: Natural Resources where I was a Ranking member on the Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee and chair of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Wildlife, Oceans and Fisheries; the Committee on Small Business, the Committee on Homeland Security and finally with the Support of the CBC, I became the first delegate ever to serve on the exclusive Committee on Energy and Commerce. I particularly thank Chairwoman Fudge, Assistant Leader Clyburn and Leader Pelosi for that honor.

I have been blessed to serve in interesting times and during the terms of three presidents--Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama.

Even without a vote I participated in discussions on every major issue in these 18 years both in Congress and in each White House.

And I have been fortunate with the help and support of the many who I have thanked to have been able through increased rum cover over funds, forgiveness of disaster loans, enabling borrowing and helping to ensure territories were included in the recovery act to help stave off what would have been a far worse impact from the national and global recession.

My staff and I were able to increase funding for roads and provide new funding for wastewater treatment systems and other infrastructure repair. First responder funding reached unprecedented highs.

And even though we were unsuccessful in our efforts to get state like treatment for the territories in the Affordable Care Act, I count as one of my most important legacies is the fact that working with my TriCaucus colleagues I was able to include many provisions for us that will enable coverage, service and protections for the four and a half million of us, as well as health equity and other provisions that benefit all Americans.

I had the privilege of working with others to create and maintain the Minority AIDS Initiative, to improve Ryan White, to expand the Children's Health Insurance, and to create the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities at NIH.

There is more, but most of all I am proud of the individuals and families we have helped in our district and Washington offices.

We helped resolve immigration, veterans, military, TWIC card, VICORP, social security, and Homeland Security issues, some involving saving jobs or getting them thousands of dollars they were owed. We were not 100% successful, but we always pursued the issues on behalf of our constituents to the nth degree.

So again to everyone who voted for me, who supported my efforts and who helped to provide the tools for a better life for the people of the Virgin Islands, thank you.

I will forever be grateful to all of you and will always consider it the highest honor to have been able to serve the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands and my country for 18 wonderful years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an outstanding leader from my congressional district in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Reverend Monsignor Michael F. Kosak, a Roman Catholic Priest, for his many contributions to St. Croix and the Virgin Islands community over 44 years.

Born in Brooklyn, New York on December 7, 1938, the first-born child of Michael and Rose Marnick Kosak, Monsignor Kosak graduated from high school in 1956 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1957, serving for several years before beginning his religious studies. In 1966, Monsignor Kosak earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from St Mary's College in St. Mary, Kentucky and his Masters in Divinity from St Mary's Seminary and the University of Baltimore, Maryland in 1970.

On June 6, 1970, Monsignor Kosak was ordained as a Roman Catholic Priest for the Prelature of the Virgin Islands by the Most Reverend Edward J. Harper, Bishop of the Virgin Islands at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Brooklyn, New York. That same year on July 26, Monsignor Kosak became pastor of St. Ann's Church, Barrenspot Hill, St. Croix, Virgin Islands and was appointed Director of Vocations in 1970; Director of Charismatic Renewal in 1977; Director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate in 1981; Director of Communications in 1982; Dean in 1985; and Episcopal Vicar, St. Croix, a position he held until 1987. Monsignor Kosak was appointed to the position of Vicar General of the Diocese on July 30, 1987, and the title of Monsignor was conferred upon him by the Most Reverend Sean O'Malley on March 13, 1989.

Mr. Speaker, through Monsignor Kosak's ministry at St Ann's Church, it grew in stature from a simply country chapel to a significant parish in the community, which offers Christian education classes to children who attend public and private schools in order that they may receive the sacraments. He has always encouraged the training and involvement of youth in the music ministry of the church. As spiritual director at the St. Joseph High School, Monsignor Kosak, was instrumental in obtaining summer youth programs at St. Joseph's in the early 1970s for the youth of the St. Croix community. He presented evangelical seminars to the churches, first in St. Croix and then in St. Thomas and St. John, the impact of which spread to every island in the Caribbean and, since 1982, to Ghana, Uganda, Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

After Monsignor Kosak was appointed Pastor of Sts. Peter & Paul Cathedral, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands on May 16, 1989, he performed spiritual director service in Trinidad and in Malta from 1990 to 1991; He was again appointed Pastor of Sts. Peter & Paul Cathedral on August 1, 1992. During the 1990s, Monsignor Kosak oversaw the renovations of the Cathedral which included preserving precious works of art that dated back to the 19th century.

On October 1, 1995, Monsignor Kosak was appointed Pastor of St Ann's Church, where he began major construction of the Sts. Joachim & Ann Church and the renovation of the sugar mill into the Shrine of Our Lady of Barrenspot. Other major construction of the Marian Hall, the paving of new roads and the parking lot, as well as the beautification of the 9.5 acres of parish property at St. Ann's commenced from 1999 to 2007. Always one to continue the path of education and spirituality, Monsignor Kosak took a sabbatical at North American College in Rome 2000 and took a spirituality course at Angelicum, Rome in 2004. The Most Reverend Bishop George Murry appointed him as Vicar General on August 15, 2005 and following Bishop Murry's transfer, Monsignor Kosak was elected Diocesan Administrator.

Mr. Speaker, in January 2008, Monsignor Kosak published his memoir titled, ``Journey of a Homeboy,'' which chronicles his life's journey from his time at a home for boys in Brooklyn to the tropical breezes of the Virgin Islands. He writes of serving as pastor during life-altering events to include the destruction of Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Marilyn in 1995 and spiritual experiences along the way, including a mountaintop experience at Mt. St. Benedict in Trinidad on January 6, 1977 that lit the shepherd on fire and there was no turning back in his ministry.

Mr. Speaker, Monsignor Kosak celebrated his 40th anniversary as an ordained priest on June 6, 2010 and later that year, the Holy Father conferred upon him the papal honor of Prothonotary Apostolic, which is dated July 12, 2010 at the Vatican. From June 2012 to December 2013, Monsignor Kosak served as Editor of the Catholic Islander, the Diocesan Monthly Magazine.

Monsignor Kosak retired as pastor of St. Ann's Catholic Church on August 31, 2014 and is now Pastor Emeritus of St. Ann Barrenspot. Monsignor Kosak will remain active as a Diocesan Consulter to The Most Reverend Herbert Brevard, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of St. Thomas to assist him in matters concerning health care, property insurance and pension issues in the diocese. At the conclusion of his memoir, Monsignor Kosak wrote, ``God isn't finished with me yet and I ask your prayerful support so that this `homeboy' will always be a faithful disciple of the Holy Spirit.''

Mr. Speaker, Monsignor Kosak has served his country and my constituency well and on behalf of the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands and a grateful flock, I wish ``Father Mike'' continued success and on behalf of the Congress of the United States, thank him for his long, dedicated and bountiful service to the parish of Sts. Ann and Joachim, the community of St. Croix and the Diocese of St. Thomas. May God continue to richly bless him with good health and many more years in service to the Almighty God.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in posthumous recognition of Wadsworth Dickerson, a Friend, Mentor, campaign and personal supporter, who was with me at the beginning of my political career. He was one of those individuals that could be accurately described as ``Larger than Life''! He would enter a room and fill it with a Presence bigger than his person, and begin to talk in that voice that was oh so powerful-- even in a whisper. Many memories come to mind of `that smile' and how he enjoyed a good joke.

He had more than a finger on the pulse of sentiments being felt by the constituency and their concerns that were often not brought to the attention of those seeking public office. His was an absence that was, and still is, greatly and pointedly missed, in every election I have participated in since his untimely demise a decade ago.

Mr. Dickerson was also affectionately known as ``Lalie'', to those that knew him on a first name or nickname basis. He was born on the island of Antigua to parents that came from the island of St. Kitts. He was the only son that his parents had and those who were brave enough to say it, said that he always got his way and succeeded in getting away with conduct that was never tolerated from his sister siblings or other relatives. This privilege helped to give him stellar and sterling attributes that later on became exemplary characteristics that endeared him to many: a care free, head strong and independent person, with a love for life, adventure and animals, which all started at an early age.

As a young boy, Lalie travelled back and forth from Antigua to St. Croix, until he decided that St. Croix was where he wanted to live and raise a family with his then girlfriend, Cavelle. The island of St. Croix, in the early days of their marriage, provided vast opportunities to young people with talent; and Lalie's carpentry craftsmanship allowed him to make a lot of people very happy when he built cabinets, wall aquariums, mahogany beds and other priceless treasures. This is how he began to establish and maintain close connections with the ``grass roots''.

Lalie's eulogy credited his love for democracy and politics as coming from his mother and former Congressman Ron de Lugo, my predecessor. He was always a person who enjoyed a good time and an intense political chat. This was another method that enabled him to keep his hand on the pulse and enabled him to know who was who and how they thought and felt on various subjects. Other characteristics that endeared him to many was his ability to be there for others, always ready to lend a helping hand to others less fortunate, or to those that just needed advice. ``He was steadfast in whatever he believed in even if it meant he was on the losing side''--which was a very rare event.

Lalie became mesmerized with the beauty of St. Croix so much that he enjoyed hanging out with friends on the waterfront or even just to go to take a sail with a friend. In addition to his carpentry skills, he worked at the Department of Sanitation; the U. S. District Court; the Youth Rehabilitation Center and the Department of Education; where a job injury ended his working career. He was also a Lifelong Democrat because his mother told him there could be no other party than the Democratic Party, because it was the Party for poor people. He has also been involved and a member of numerous Democratic Clubs, including the People's Democratic Club and the Democratic Territorial Committee.

I know that many Democrats still deeply miss the presence and unwavering support

from one of our most dedicated party members who also just happened to be the ``Conscience'' of the Party. Even though he seemed to breathe politics, he also had another passion which was gardening. His green thumb caused his family to always be able to have fresh vegetables and even fruits at times.

Lalie was also a family man, proud of his children; loved his grandchildren and was overjoyed being in the presence of his great- grandchildren. His and Cavelle's home was the center and heartbeat of the family.

As I bring my congressional tenure to closure and reflect on the beginning: the joy, happy memories, the sadness of losing him and appreciation of him and all that he brought to me, my life, family and campaigns; always contributed to making it extremely difficult to think and write about him. It is so easy to be sad in nostalgia but, he would not want us to feel anything but happiness for Life and Opportunity to move on and improve. May he rest in peace.