Thread by @didikins4life

This is the #DemPartyPlatform for 2020. This part is called: RESTORING AND STRENGTHENING OUR DEMOCRACY: Supporting the U.S. Territories
Only one party understands that the unequal treatment of all residents of US territories must end. 1/16

#Democrats recognize and honor the contributions and sacrifices made in service of our country by the Americans living in the territories of Guam, American Samoa, the USVirginIslands, and the CommonwealthoftheNorthernMarianaIslands. 2/16 #DemPartyPlatform #USTerritories

The people of the U.S. territories have played a vital role in American democracy for more than 120 years, and have for too long been met with unequal treatment by the federal government. 3/16 #DemPartyPlatform #USTerritories

#Democrats support establishing a Congressional task force to gather findings on voting rights in the territories,4/16 #DemPartyPlatform #USTerritories

#Democrats will recommend changes to Congress to allow for the full and equal voting rights of U.S. citizens who are residents of the territories in federal elections, and for full and equal voting representation in the U.S. House of Representatives. 5/16 #DemPartyPlatform

The American citizens of the U.S. territories should have the right to vote for President of the United States. 6/16 #DemPartyPlatform #USTerritories

#Democrats will support self-determination for the people of the U.S territories, including respecting their right to decide their future status in a fair, binding, and equitable manner. 7/16 #DemPartyPlatform #USTerritories

The U.S. Virgin Islands suffered significant impacts as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa have suffered damages as a result of intensifying Pacific typhoons and cyclones. 8/16 #DemPartyPlatform

#Democrats will support investments to help the U.S. territories recover from recent natural disasters and build increased resilience to the impacts of climate change, including by expanding access to clean, affordable, reliable energy and water systems. 9/16 #DemPartyPlatform

#Democrats will mobilize resources to address disparities in agriculture, economic development, education, employment, energy, health care, housing &infrastructure in the U.S. territories to help the territories diversify their economies & recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.10/16

#Democrats will improve health care access and affordability and support policies to address health disparities in the U.S. territories. 11/16 #DemPartyPlatform #USTerritories #healthcare

#Democrats believe the territories should be treated equally with respect to important federal programs, including the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, SNAP, and the Child Tax Credit, that reduce poverty and support working families. 12/16 #DemPartyPlatform #USTerritories

And #Democrats commit to ensuring veterans from the U.S. territories have access to timely and quality health care and other benefits through the VA.13/16 #DemPartyPlatform #USTerritories #Veterans

#Democrats will continue to work with the people of #Guam to properly memorialize residents who suffered unspeakable harm as a result of their U.S. nationality during the Imperial Japanese occupation of Guam during World War II.14/16 #DemPartyPlatform #USTerritories

#Democrats recognize the increasing demands placed on state & territorial governments by migration under the Compacts of Free Association (COFA), & will explore mechanisms for increasing reimbursement of costs absorbed by Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands &Hawaii.15/16

And #Democrats will restore #Medicaid eligibility for migrants under #COFA who are legally residing, working, and studying in the United States, but who were inadvertently left out of health care legislation.16/16 #DemPartyPlatform #USTerritories