WHEREAS unless the Virgin Islands becomes a state of the United States or an
independent nation, it will continue to be a territory of the United States; and

 WHEREAS the people of the Northern Marianas are not U.S. citizens, but
nevertheless negotiated a "Covenant" with the United States which was subsequently
approved by Congress; and

 WHEREAS there are many problem areas with the present Virgin Islands-
federal relationship; and

 WHEREAS the Executive and Judicial branches of the Federal Government
have denied the Virgin Islands Government access to the excise taxes collected on
petroleum products imported into the United States from the Virgin Islands, a source of
revenue that is urgently needed to relieve the critical budgetary pressures that exist
within the Territory; and

 WHEREAS representatives of the Administration of former President Jimmy
Carter and the Administration of President Ronald Reagan have threatened to effect
federal control and administration of the Virgin Islands Income Tax System, a move
which would be inconsistent with the objectives of the people of the Virgin Islands to
achieve a full measure of internal self-government; and

 WHEREAS the People of the Virgin Islands have no voting representation in
Congress, therefore, federalization of the Virgin Islands Income Tax System would
amount to taxation without representation and is repugnant to the American system of
democratic government; and

 WHEREAS no attempt should be made to enter into Virgin Islands-United
States status talks or negotiations of federal relations issues until the people of the
Virgin Islands determine by secret ballot their desired future political status or federal
relations changes; Now, Therefore,

Be it resolved by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands:

 Section 1. (a) There is hereby created a Select Committee on Status and
Federal Relations between the United States Virgin Islands and the United States of
America consisting of nine Senators to be appointed by the President of the
Legislature.

 (b) Within 15 days after the approval of this resolution, the President shall
appoint the members of the Select Committee and designate a chairman and vice-
chairman.

 (c) The Select Committee shall conduct extensive public information programs,
forums, panel discussions and consultations throughout the Virgin Islands to enable
the people of the Virgin Islands to express their views regarding the ultimate political