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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Faleomavaega said yesterday that he will serve as the fourth most senior Democratic member of the House Committee on International Relations.
Faleomavaega said the rules of Congress require all members to serve on committees because every member represent his state or territory and also the United States.
"In my case, I represent the people of American Samoa and I also represent the United States on behalf of the people of American Samoa," said Faleomavaega. "My committee assignments include service on the International Relations, Resources, and Small Business Committees, and their Subcommittees."
The House Committee on International Relations is made up of seven subcommittees: Asia and the Pacific; the Middle East and Central Asia; Europe and Emerging Threats; Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations; the Western Hemisphere; International Terrorism and Nonproliferation; and Investigations and Oversight.
The Committee on International Relations is responsible for relations of the United States with foreign nations generally. This includes intervention abroad and declarations of war like Iraq.
The committee is also responsible for issues involving nuclear nonproliferation and protecting the interests of American businesses abroad.
Congressman Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) is the chairman of the House Committee on Resources. Congressman Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) is the ranking, or most senior Democratic member of the Committee.
"As I have said before, Congress is built on seniority," said Faleomavaega. "All freshmen, or new members of Congress, start at the bottom and must wait years to work their way to the top of a Committee. This includes Republicans, too."
The congressman said that as a result of American Samoa's support of him in the past nine elections, the territory now has seniority in Congress.
"At a time when our nation is at war, I am pleased to represent your interests and the interests of our military men and women as the fourth highest-ranking Democrat on the International Relations Committee," Faleomavaega said.
Faleomavaega will also serve as the top ranking democrat of the International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction for the Andean countries that export tuna to the U.S.
"As a senior member of these Committees and Subcommittees and with an increased focus in Congress on foreign policy, I am fully committed to doing everything I can to see that your interests are protected and represented," said Faleomavaega. "Your needs are my priority and together we are making a difference.
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