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Amata welcomes young Pacific leaders to D.C.

Pacific Young Leaders group with Congresswoman Amata
Budget boost for American Samoa making its way through Congress
Source: RNZI

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed young business and government leaders from the Pacific during their visit to Capitol Hill. The group is in the United States through the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program.

“Our Pacific friendships are important to the United States,” said Aumua Amata. “I appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit of these young leaders, and it was a pleasure meeting with them. In terms of the vast Pacific Ocean, these nations are American Samoa’s closest neighbors, and key trading partners to our country.”

The group included Ms. Teaoakamaru Mariri, Cook Islands; Mr. Mori Mori, Federated States of Micronesia; Mr. Giffney Dwain Ah Tong Qalovaki, Fiji; Ms. Manuia Maiti, French Polynesia; Mr. Sealend Laiden and Ms. Genna Tiobech, Republic of the Marshall Islands; Mr. Shay Wright, New Zealand; Ms. Katrina Tauefasi, Niue; Mr. Dagia Aka, Papua New Guinea; Mr. Daniel Ngg Cho, Samoa; Ms. Sesimani Marie Lokotui and Mr. Siosaia Mataele, Tonga.

The International Visitor Leadership Program hosts emerging leaders in many fields, including entrepreneurs, on short-term visits to the United States, where they experience the U.S. and build relationships with U.S. leaders in their field, industry or government area.

SENATE PASSES AMATA-REQUESTED BUDGET BOOST FOR AMERICAN SAMOA

Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming Senate passage of her requested third straight year of additional funds for American Samoa’s operations. The bill passed with unanimous support in the Senate and will now be conferenced with the House bill.

It will provide about $2.6 million more than the federal budget proposal for American Samoa Government, boosting the operations budget by another $400,000. This follows similar increases Amata secured of $718,000 and $250,000 the past two years.

“This is great news for us, and builds on other recent legislation,” said Aumua Amata. “Congress has also acted twice this year to provide more Medicaid assistance for our islands, and provided $18 million in nutrition assistance through my amendments.”

With the budget increase, the bill will provide $24,120,000 for operations grants to American Samoa. That is $400,000 above the enacted level and specifically $2,591,000 above the request. The Senate Energy/Interior Appropriations bill was led by Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

This major bill passed the Senate late last Thursday, as part of a group of four major yearly funding bills for federal departments. The House bill contains the same funding amount for American Samoa.

“I always appreciate Senator Murkowski’s ongoing friendship to American Samoa,” said Congresswoman Amata. “On the House side, Chairwoman Nita Lowey, Ranking Member Kay Granger, Interior-Environment Subcommittee Chairwoman Betty McCollum, and Ranking Member John Joyce supported the same funding for American Samoa in the bill earlier this year.”