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Amata discusses Am Samoa’a healthcare infrastructure needs

Congresswoman Amata
Source: Media release from Cong. Uifaatali Amata's office

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata again emphasized health infrastructure in a Wednesday hearing of the Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples, stating for the record that LBJ Tropical Medical Center is “in dire need of replacement or repair.” The oversight hearing was titled “Infrastructure in Indigenous Communities: Priorities for American Jobs Plan.” 

 “I continue to include LBJ Tropical Medical Center at every opportunity in Washington, as Congress and President Biden are currently emphasizing infrastructure considerations,” said Congresswoman Amata. “I empathize with the testimony showing challenges for remote communities in Alaska and tribal communities, and that description has similarities to our needs in American Samoa, as we work for long term solutions for better health infrastructure.”

The Committee examined the proposed infrastructure legislation in terms of providing health care infrastructure support in these areas, and the need for clarity and specifics in providing those services despite geographic challenges. 

BIPARTISAN VA OVERSIGHT BILLS

Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata in a Wednesday hearing focused on two bipartisan VA oversight bills, which she helped introduce earlier this month with sponsor Rep. Kathleen Rice of New York. The legislative hearing of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations examined a number of bills, including the two Rice-Amata VA reform bills. 

 “This examination is an important step for this legislation to move through Congress, so it can put this increased VA accountability into practice, and put Veterans first,” said Congresswoman Amata. “It’s part of our national commitment to our Veterans to continue a necessary focus on constructive oversight, accountability and transparency.”

These bills are the Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act (H.R. 2428), and the VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act (H.R. 2429), introduced by Rep. Rice and Rep. Amata earlier this month.

In summary, one bill would provide the VA Office of Inspector General with tools and subpoena authority to detect and investigate possible instances of waste, fraud, and abuse. The other legislation directs VA police transparency reforms.