Millions of dollars are earmarked specifically for American Samoa under President Barack Obama’s budget proposal submitted to Congress recently for fiscal year 2011. This is in addition to the usual annual allocation for the territory.

American Samoa’s usual allocation from the federal government, through the U.S. Department of Interior budget covers government operations money and capital improvement projects. DOI is also making similar proposals in its FY2011 budget submitted to Congress last week.

On his weekend radio program, Gov. Togiola Tulafono outlined several allocations in Obama’s budget proposal earmarked specifically for American Samoa, saying he is seeking congressional and White House assistance to include us in another funding program, provided for other U.S. insular areas, but not American Samoa.

According to the Governor, some $20 million is being proposed by Obama for American Samoa in education service, which includes about $10 million under the U.S. Department of Education Title I program; $3.5 million for teacher improvement; and $3 million for other areas dealing with teachers.

Togiola says there is also an allocation of $6.4 million specifically for issues on young children; $1.2 million for vocational rehabilitation; $3.9 million for child care (under the development block grant); $2.3 million for the Head Start program; and $4.8 million for the local E-rate program.

For transportation, $6.2 million is being proposed for airport projects; $16.8 million for roads and highways; and about $600,000 under the federal transit formula grant that could help with Manu’a transportation needs, he said.

American Samoa is proposed to receive $9.2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Women, Infant, Children (WIC) program, administered by the Department of Human and Social Service which is also proposed to receive half a million dollars under the service block grant, the Governor says.

Togiola says the Medicaid allocation for the territory being proposed by Obama is $10.2 million— but the biggest challenge for American Samoa is identifying the local matching funds, which would also be $10.2 million.

The Medicaid program is administered locally by LBJ Medical Center, who also oversees the territory’s proposed allocation of about $900,000 under the stated Children’s Health Insurance program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, he said.

Togiola said American Samoa’s usual allocation for this children’s insurance program is about $500,000 annually.

Other proposed funds for the territory include $10.6 million for clean water and state revolving fund; about $200,000 for energy assistance for low income families; $300,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor for the Workforce Investment Act and $800,000 for the justice assistant grant program, the Governor says.

Specific details of each of the funding sources were not provided by the governor’s office, but it’s expected that this will be done later once approved by Congress.

Togiola reiterated that this is only “proposed” funding from the Obama administration and he is very thankful to the White House for seeking to improve funding for American Samoa.

The Governor said he will be heading to Washington D.C. soon for the winter meeting of the National Governor’s Association and will use this trip to also make contact with federal agencies and Congressional members to discuss support of Obama’s allocation for American Samoa.

While in the nation’s capitol, Togiola said, he will seek out federal support to include American Samoa in another federal school nutrition program in which all Insular Areas have a share, except American Samoa.