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Feds fund three grants — for healthy people and a healthy envionment for American Samoa

Congresswoman Aumua Amata
Source: Office of the Congresswoman

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed two discretionary federal grants for American Samoa, each through the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Department, for a total of nearly $520,000

The larger of the two grants will provide $400,000 in social and economic development support for American Samoa through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), an agency of HHS. The recipient is Empowering Pacific Island Communities, and the title of the grant is the Healthy Amerika Samoa Community Development project.

“I appreciate everyone involved in community development efforts and special congratulations to Toetasi Tuiteleleapaga upon this grant,” said Aumua Amata.

The other grant of $119,800 is a health services grant to LBJ through the Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS). “Thank you to Ianeta Timoteo-Liaina for her hard work as a health care professional and congratulations for this grant,” said Congresswoman Amata.

HHS is led by Secretary Alex Azar, while ACF is led by Assistant Secretary Lynn Johnson, and OPHS by Dr. Howard Koh. “Federal funding is important to providing services and improvements throughout our community,” concluded Amata.

NOAA CORAL REEF GRANT FOR AMERICAN SAMOA TOTALS $536,964

Last week Congresswoman Aumua Amata also welcomed a grant of $536,964 for American Samoa’s coral reef conservation through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

These funds are available to the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources under the Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreement. The American Samoa Government would need to match $49,588 in funding.

“American Samoa is a beautiful place, and healthy coral reefs will always be an important part of our islands’ ecosystem and coasts,” said Aumua Amata. “I want to especially thank director Va'amua Henry Sesepasara and the Marine and Wildlife Department for your efforts, along with NOAA for this federal support.”

NOAA is issuing grants for coral conservation projects and scientific studies in seven U.S. states and territories as part of the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. Among these projects are efforts to heal and protect damaged reefs, and address ongoing needs due to climate, pollution or fishing.

“Healthy and diverse coral reefs support the nation’s blue economy through tourism and recreation, coastal flood and storm protection, and seafood production,” said Jennifer Koss, director of the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program in the announcement.

“We are delighted to continue funding research and activities that reduce local threats and advance conservation strategies so that we can sustain coral reef ecosystems for generations to come.”

NOAA is a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce that is led by Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, Dr. Neal Jacobs.