Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is highlighting ongoing CARES Act federal funding for COVID-19 response national emergency efforts in American Samoa.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are making available $259,066 in supplemental funding for American Samoa through the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program Supplemental (EMPG-S), which under the CARES Act is distinct from the established EMPG program, and is funded at $100 billion through the historic $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

FEMA is led by Administrator Pete Gaynor, and the agency is part of DHS, led by Acting Secretary Chad Wolf.

“The federal government continues to put resources in place to assist this important effort,” said Aumua Amata. “We have been blessed with good news in American Samoa with the early test results, under the Territory task force plan. I will continue to apprise you of developments in Washington, D.C., that affect our islands. Thank you to Secretary Wolf, Administrator Gaynor, and those in our islands who will put in the effort to fulfill this program.”

Under the FEMA distribution method, island territories American Samoa, CNMI, USVI, and Guam are awarded similar amounts.

These funds assist states, local governments, tribes and territories with public health and emergency management activities supporting the prevention, preparation and response to the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 public health emergency. FEMA awards support planning and operational readiness, development of tools and strategies, and communication among responding agencies. The Territory must process the award, available here, and FEMA is streamlining the grants procedure with more helpful information here.