A majority of senators voted to adopt rules that will govern their tenure in the 34th Legislature and made changes to the composition of four standing committees on Monday afternoon, January 25, 2021 during Legislative Session at the Capitol Building.
The meeting of the full body was a continuation of their first held on January 11, 2020, where they announced officers and the majority caucus after taking the oath of office.
With the passage of Bill No. 34-0002, a resolution to adopt the Rules of the 34th Legislature, they approved their organizing document, which dictates the authority and conduct of its members, officers and staff; legislative processes and procedures; and day-to-day operations; along with the jurisdiction and appointment of members to its standing committees.
Next, they reconsidered and amended Bill No. 34-0001, by primarily making changes to the memberships of the Committee on Education and Workforce Development; Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection; Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications; Committee on Youth, Sports, Parks, and Recreation.
Both measures passed 11 to 4 with Senators Donna Frett-Gregory, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Genevieve Whitaker, Marvin A. Blyden, Samuel Carriόn, Kenneth L. Gittens, Carla Joseph, Steven D. Payne, Sr., Milton E. Potter; Janelle K. Sarauw; and Kurt A. Vialet voting in favor; and Senators Dwayne M. DeGraff, Alma Francis Heyliger, Javan E. James, Sr., and Franklin D. Johnson opposed.
A motion by Senator Dwayne DeGraff to consider null and void any business outside the normal functions of the legislative branch to include appropriations, expenditures, pre-emption, bills passed between January 11 and 25, 2021 failed.
President Frett-Gregory recessed the meeting until 6:30 p.m. for the State of the Territory Address.
Composition of the 34th Legislature’s Standing Committees:
Committee on Education and Workforce Development
Chair: Senator Genevieve Whitaker Vice-Chair: Senator Janelle K. Sarauw
Members: Senator Donna Frett-Gregory, Senator Kenneth L. Gittens, Senator Milton E. Potter, Senator Carla Joseph, Senator Kurt A. Vialet
Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection
Chair: Senator Carla Joseph
Vice-Chair: Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr.
Members: Senator Marvin A. Blyden, Senator Milton E. Potter, Senator Javan E. James, Sr., Senator Franklin D. Johnson, and Senator Alma Francis Heyliger
Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications
Chair: Senator Marvin A. Blyden Vice-Chair: Senator Genevieve Whitaker
Members: Senator Steven D. Payne, Sr., Senator Kurt A. Vialet, Senator Samuel Carrión, Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff, Senator Janelle K. Sarauw
Committee on Youth, Sports, Parks and Recreation
Chair: Senator Samuel Carrión Vice-Chair: Senator Steven D. Payne, Sr.
Members: Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff, Senator Carla Joseph, Senator Franklin D. Johnson, Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, Senator Javan E. James, Sr.
Committee on Rules and Judiciary
Chair: Senator Milton E. Potter Vice Chair: Senator Kenneth L. Gittens
Members: Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Senator Steven D. Payne, Sr., Senator Carla Joseph, Senator Genevieve Whitaker, Senator Franklin D. Johnson
Committee on Finance
Chair: Senator Kurt A. Vialet
Vice Chair: Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory
Members: Senator Marvin A. Blyden, Senator Samuel Carriόn, Senator Javan E. James, Sr., Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff, Senator Janelle K. Sarauw
Committee on Health, Hospitals & Human Services
Chair: Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. Vice Chair: Senator Marvin A. Blyden
Members: Senator Kenneth L. Gittens, Senator Kurt A. Vialet, Senator Samuel Carriόn, Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, Senator Janelle K. Sarauw
Committee on Disaster Recovery and Infrastructure
Chair: Senator Janelle K. Sarauw Vice Chair: Senator Kurt A. Vialet
Members: Senator Carla Joseph, Senator Marvin A. Blyden, Senator Genevieve Whitaker, Senator Samuel Carriόn, Senator Franklin D. Johnson
Committee on Economic Development & Agriculture
Chair: Senator Kenneth L. Gittens Vice Chair: Senator Milton E. Potter
Members: Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory,
Senator Javan E. James, Sr., Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff, Senator Alma Francis Heyliger
Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety
Chair: Senator Steven D. Payne, Sr. Vice Chair: Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff
Members: Senator Kenneth L. Gittens, Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Senator Javan E. James, Sr., Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, Senator Franklin D. Johnson
Committee of the Whole
Chair: Senator Donna Frett-Gregory, Vice Chair: Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr.
Members: Senator Genevieve Whitaker, Secretary; Senator Marvin A. Blyden, Majority Leader
Senator Samuel Carriόn; Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff; Senator Alma Francis Heyliger; Senator Kenneth L. Gittens; Senator Javan E. James, Sr.; Senator Franklin D. Johnson; Senator Carla Joseph; Senator Steven D. Payne, Sr.; Senator Milton E. Potter; Senator Janelle K. Sarauw; Senator Kurt A. Vialet
