Ads by Google Ads by Google

Gov. Lolo thanks Senate Committee for increase in ASG ops funding

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga
Interior appropriation bill includes additional funds requested by the governor

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga this week thanked the US Senate Committee on Appropriations for increasing the amount of funding that will be available to American Samoa in the coming fiscal year to support government operations and construction projects.

The additional funding was included in the FY 2020 Department of Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriation bill at the request of the governor.  “I have received word that the Senate Appropriations Committee has responded to my request for additional funding for American Samoa Operations Grant Program” for FY 2020, the governor said.

“At my request the committee has decided to reconsider the President’s call for a significant reduction in the program and has instead provided an increase of $400,000 over what we are receiving this year,” he said.

In March this year President Trump released his budget for FY 2020 which included $21.52 million for the program, a cut of $2.19 million form the previous year’s level of $23.72 million. The governor immediately wrote to the President, objecting to the proposed 9% reduction, citing economic challenges facing the territory as it continues to recover from Cyclone Gita. He expressed “surprise and dismay” at the President’s decision.

In April, the governor wrote to leaders of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, asking them to reconsider the President’s recommendation and provide at least the same level of funding that American Samoa is receiving through the program this year.

In subsequent communications from the Senate and House leaders over the past months, the governor pressed for an increase that would allow ASG to keep pace with escalating costs of providing essential services and undertaking important construction projects.

The American Samoa Operations Grant program is administered by the US Interior Department and provides support for basic government operations, as well as the LBJ Medical Center, the American Samoa Community College, and the High Court.

“I would like to thank the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee for responding to my request and providing a more equitable amount of funding for American Samoa than had been proposed. I am especially grateful to Chairman Richard Shelby, Chairwoman Lisa Murkowsky, Ranking Member Patrick Leahy, and Ranking Member Tom Udall for assisting with my request and increasing the amount of funding American Samoa will receive next year to support our government operations,” the governor wrote.

He will continue to press his case for the maximum federal funding for American Samoa the FY 2020 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations which now moves to the full Senate on its way to being signed into law later this year.