It all adds up, according to “historical” information Congressman Faleomavaega Eni submitted last week to the Congressional record of the U.S. House of Representatives, which shows the Federal Government provided American Samoa with just over $4 billion between fiscal year years 1995 and 2012, and the bulk of it went to the local government.

The data was submitted as part of Faleomavaega’s farewell speech on the House floor last Wednesday, however, it does not provide a summary or break down of which federal agencies provided what dollar amounts for each year.

Of the total federal expenditures of $4.11 billion (or $4,110,726,114) to American Samoa between FYs 1995 and 2012, Faleomavaega’s report shows that between 1995 and 2001 expenditures were just over $1.08 million; between 2002 and 2007 it was nearly $1.4 billion; and from 2008 to 2012 it was about $1.63 billion.

The largest expenditure for American Samoa was in 2010 at over $510 million; followed by $333.78 million in 2009; $293.66 million in 2011 and $262.24 million in 2012.

Samoa News understands that the reason for the big expenditure in FY 2010 was for federal help given to the territory following the September 2009 tsunami as well as money allocated to the territory under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Samoa News should point out that between 1995 and 2001, federal expenditures for each year were less than $200 million. From 2002 on, total federal expenditures were more than $200 million.  (List of historical information is available on Congressional records at www.house.gov)

Faleomavaega didn’t immediately respond to Samoa News email questions last Friday, asking for summary break downs of the expenditures, however, his website does provide a summary for some fiscal years. Details are below.

FALEOMAVAEGA’S SUMMARY RECORDS FYs 1995-2009

On the Congressman’s website, documents posted provide a summary for expenditures to American Samoa between FYs 1995 and 2009. Total expenditures for each fiscal year on are the same on the website as data submitted to the Congressional record.

The expenditures for fiscal years FY 1995-2009 totaled $3.05 billion and include those payments directly to ASG, totaling $1.97 billion. The largest allocation for ASG of $512.37 million is from the U.S. Department of Interior; followed by $317.42 million from the U.S. Education Department; $297.59 million from U.S. Department of Agriculture; $249.22 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and $187.51 million.

The Congressman’s summary also shows for FY 1995-2009, just over $58 million in payments were made to the territory to entities other than ASG. These expenditures include money from the DOI, U.S. Postal Service and Small Business administration but no specific details were provided.

Additionally, the summary provides data on “individual payments and contracts” other than ASG and this comes to $1.02 billion. These payments include $457 million from the Social Security Administration; $58 million for federal retirement & disability; $70 million for veterans’ benefits; $264 million for procurement contracts; and $18 million for the Additional Child Tax Credit.

Faleomavaega’s first summary report on federal dollars sent to American Samoa covering between 1995 and 2001 totaling over $1 billion was released in 2003. Samoa News covered that first report. Summary reports for 1995-2009 are available on the Congressman’s website.

FALEOMAVAEGA’S FAREWELL SPEECH

On Monday this week, Faleomavaega delivered his farewell speech on the House floor where he thanked “our fellow Americans and the people of American Samoa for the opportunity they gave me to serve them.”

Having grown up in the small village of Vailoatai and having graduated from Kahuku High School in Hawai’i, Faleomavaega says he never expected that the people of American Samoa would choose him to serve them in the U.S. House from the time he was first elected in 1988 until 2014.

“As I now leave this great institution, Mr. Speaker, I once more express my love for the people of American Samoa and to all my fellow Americans,” he said and thanked both his Democratic and Republican colleagues.

“I go forward, Mr. Speaker, knowing that the best is yet to come and hoping that I will be remembered for trying my best. For the times I fell short, I ask for forgiveness,” he said. “To each of my colleagues and to you, Mr. Speaker, I extend my kindest and highest regards. May God be with you always. Fa'afetai ma ia Soifua, meaning, in the Samoan language, thank you, and may peace be with you always.”

Video of the Congressman’s address on post the House website as well as full text of his speech.