Congressman Faleomavaega Eni is returning to the territory by the end of this week in preparation for the Nov. 4 general election, while Congress is in recess for mid-term elections across the country. He is expected to attend the Oct. 23 Congressional Forum organized by the American Samoa Community College Student Government Association, which has invited all nine candidates to take part.

The nine Congressional candidates are incumbent Congressman Faleomavaega Eni, Aumua Amata, Mapu J. Jamias, Mark Ude, Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman, Rosie Fualaau Tago Lancaster, Togiola Tulafono, Tua’au Kereti Matautia Jr., and Tuika Tuika.

This is Faleomavega’s first trip to the territory since he arrived in October last year for an education conference, but instead was admitted directly to the LBJ Medical Center for observation. A few days later he was medivaced to Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu for further treatment, followed by rehab.

Aumua Amata, Mapu J. Jamias and Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman told Samoa News that they welcome the congressman home. Aumua added, "I hope his health will withstand the long journey. This is why Congress has what they call a District Work Period. It gives the Members the opportunity to return to their homes to keep up with the concerns of the constituents they represent." By press time, Samoa News was unable to make contact with the other candidates for comments on Faleomavaega’s scheduled return to the territory.

The Congressman’s office in Washington D.C. confirmed Monday night to Samoa News that Falemovaega is heading home to the territory and will arrive Oct. 17. He will be in the territory until Nov. 7 before returning to Washington D.C., with Congress set to reconvene Nov. 12 following mid-term elections.

Samoa News understands that the Congressman should be arriving in Honolulu today to await his flight to Pago Pago, which would be this Friday.

It's unclear at this point if the Congressman will hold a campaign rally before the general election next month. The ASCC-SGA congressional forum that he’s slated to attend will be held at the ASCC gymnasium next week Thursday. See elsewhere in today’s issue for more details on the ASCC Forum.

BACKGROUND

The Congressman’s Office didn’t reveal any details of the cause of Faleomaveaga’s hospitalization until last month when the congressman released a four-minute ‘thank-you message’ to the people of American Samoa, as an election advertisement, saying, “Because of complications due to Agent Orange exposure during my service in Vietnam, I was airlifted to Hawai’i where I was not expected to live… Like hundreds of thousands of Vietnam veterans, I now suffer from the side effects of Agent Orange, including heart and kidney disease… But with proper diagnosis and dialysis treatments, my life has been spared,” he said.  (See Samoa News edition on Aug. 24 for details).