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Amata backs request for Coronavirus funds

Congresswoman Aumua Amata.
Sources: Media release from Cong. Aumua Amata's office

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata expressed support for President Trump’s supplemental budget request for an additional $1.25 billion to strengthen prevention and containment of COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus.

“I support the efforts by both the Congress and the Administration, and these funds are the logical next step,” said Aumua Amata. “All reasonable steps should be taken to ensure the country’s full resources can quickly move in support of any community that might experience a need to help contain an outbreak.”

Procedurally and for congressional budgetary reasons, the funds would be designated as emergency and part of fiscal year 2020. The additional funds would increase the possible response support to $2.5 billion. “This funding would support all aspects of the U.S. response, including: public health preparedness and response efforts; public health surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory testing, and quarantining costs; advanced research and development of new vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics; advanced manufacturing enhancements; and the Strategic National Stockpile,” states the letter from Acting Director Russell Vought of the Office of Management and Budget.

“American Samoa’s location in the Pacific also means that travelers come here from a variety of countries,” continued Amata. “It’s good that this planning is underway, and I agree that plentiful resources should be available if circumstances call for a rapid government response here or elsewhere.”