Donald Trump

Editor's note: This opinion written by President-elect Donald Trump was originally published in the Pacific Daily News on March 10, 2016, while he was a candidate. The PDN is republishing it online after his victory in the presidential election.

Throughout the history of our nation, the patriotism exhibited by our brothers and sisters in the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands has often gone unacknowledged. Year after year, these citizens quietly, without fanfare, send more of their sons and daughters per capita into the U.S. armed services than any of the 50 states. All Americans should stand in awe of this commitment to the service of our nation. Geographically, the territories and commonwealths, especially those in the Pacific, are vitally important to our national security as the outer most line of defense against potential encroachment by foreign powers.

Circumstances for Americans are precarious, at best, right now due to the inattention to the will of the people by our elected representatives in Washington. For too long we have put our faith in those who are supposed to represent and do the will of the people. Unfortunately, special interests have taken over our government and this has left the American people without voice.

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Hopefully, my candidacy and presidency will change that. No more will those who reside in the territories or commonwealths be ignored. We will negotiate trade arrangements with their input, enact labor policies that help — not hurt — their unique economies and we will initiate immigration protocols that will build their communities, not tear them apart.

I am saddened to hear that, every day, more and more citizens in the territories and commonwealths are leaving their families and homes because the health care and educational systems are inadequate. Medical care in the American territories and commonwealths has historically lagged far behind the continental states, and Obamacare has only made the situation worse. Good health is an essential part of a thriving society and economy, and citizens of the territories and commonwealths deserve policies that work.

If I am honored to earn the votes of the people of the United States, territories and commonwealths during the presidential primary process and am elected to serve, I will restore equality and fairness to all citizens, especially those that have been ignored for too long. As part of my administration, I will appoint a Territory and Commonwealth Advisory Committee, or TCAC, consisting of representatives from American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The TCAC will be integrated into my presidential transition team, and be tasked with performing a holistic review of all federal regulations affecting the Territories and Commonwealths.

Once sworn into office, I will appoint a special assistant to the president responsible for day-to-day interaction with the territories and commonwealths. This position would be the direct connection for the Office of Insular Affairs and the citizens of the territories and commonwealths.

All Americans in the states, territories and commonwealths will need to come together to fix all that is broken. I am confident, however, that together we can make America great again.