Previewing a short list of the issues in her platform, Aumua Amata joins four other declared candidates launching her campaign for the non-voting Delegate’s seat to the U.S. Congress.

In a press release issued over the weekend, Aumua talked of “needs in D.C. we have to attend to.” She said the people of American Samoa need better help in the area of education and “each child needs a computer to use at home and school so he or she can better compete in today's world.”

Backing her drive for our youth, Aumua has worked as a volunteer and is a founding board member of Field House 100 American Samoa, a non-profit organization established in 2008 to help local youth seek educational opportunities. She and her organization have helped over 100 local students earn scholarships valued at $4 million to attend stateside colleges and universities.

She also talked about the need for better health care and what she as a private citizen has been able to accomplish. Teaming up with the Director of DOH and LBJ Hospital's CEO and board in 2010 she convinced the famous Flying Doctors and Dentists of America (FDOA) to come to the Territory, at their own expense, to provide much needed free hands-on medical and dental care to the people of Tutuila and Aunu’u. The medical doctors and dentists also traveled by alia and plane to bring those services to the residents of Ofu, Olosega and Ta'u, thus saving  ASG almost $200,000.

 “As your delegate I will have the ability to do much more,” she told Samoa News Saturday afternoon.

Amata said, "I've consulted with family, village and friends and am humbled by their warm positive consideration of my candidacy. Much has been done, but much more needs to be done for our Territory."

As a former U.S. House Leadership staffer who spent ten years working inside Congress she knows her way around Capitol Hill and says she certainly is no novice when it comes to national politics.

In 2005 she returned home to American Samoa to take up her village and family responsibilities.

The main question Samoa News had for the candidate is why after so many times coming up short are you standing once again for the delegate’s post?

"It's better to have loved (our people)... and lost, than never to have loved at all. My Dad's motto, Sulu o le tautua, remains what I stand for, ‘Torch of service’. My Christian values teach me what the Lord said I adhere to: ‘My grace is sufficient for you’.”

Her closing statement sets the tone for her campaign. Aumua said, “Whatever God wants for me, I'm happy for that.”