Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is in Palau this ]week at the invitation of Pacific Islands Forum Chairman, Republic of Palau H.E. President Surangel Whipps, Jr., for meetings and events surrounding the 55th PIF Leaders Meeting, which brings Pacific leaders and representatives together in Koror, Palau from August 30 through September 4. This year American Samoa is represented by Special Envoy High Chief Salanoa accompanied by ASTCA CEO Folasaitu S. Thomas and Department of Port Administration Deputy Director Michael McDonald.

Amata is Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific as well as the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, both of which have jurisdiction over U.S. issues regarding island countries and territories which are represented at the PIF, where discussions are likely to include the recent China missile tests into the South Pacific.

Amata arrived in Palau Saturday evening and attended a Sunday ceremony with Palauan President Whipps and Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung marking the transfer of a fleet of electric buses donated by Taiwan to Palau. The ceremony highlighted the longstanding development partnership between Taiwan and Palau and Taiwan’s broader contributions to Pacific development.

“American Samoa has always believed that the Pacific is strongest when our island nations work together and when our friends and partners contribute in ways that directly benefit our people,” said Congresswoman Amata. “It was good to see firsthand the practical results of Taiwan’s partnership with Palau, particularly in areas such as clean energy, transportation, and resilience.”

On Monday, Amata participated in the Small Island States Leaders Meeting, where Palau formally assumed the chairmanship of the Small Island States group, previously held by Kiribati. President Whipps called on Small Island States leaders to focus on practical outcomes that improve the lives of their people.

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Waqa likewise urged leaders to turn decisions made at the previous year’s meeting into practical action. Among the issues before the Small Island States leaders was work to modernize the group’s membership criteria while retaining the principle of structural smallness as its foundation.

“Small island states face many of the same challenges, but we also bring a unique perspective to the international community,” Amata said. “Our size does not diminish the importance of our voice. In many cases, it makes our cooperation even more important.”

Amata also participated in the Polynesian Leaders Group meeting, one of the subregional gatherings taking place in conjunction with the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting. The gathering provides Polynesian leaders an opportunity to discuss issues of particular importance to Polynesian peoples and communities.

Monday evening marked the official opening of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Koror. This year’s Forum is hosted by Palau under the theme “B.E.L.A.U. – Building Economies. Life. Action. Unity.” The official Forum program runs through September 4.

“The Pacific Islands Forum is one of our region’s most important institutions,” Amata said. “For American Samoa, participation in the broader Pacific family is especially important. We have much to contribute, much to learn from our neighbors, and a strong interest in seeing the Pacific remain peaceful, prosperous, resilient, and united.”

Amata’s participation reflects her work in Congress to strengthen the partnership between the United States and the Pacific Islands. On August 27, she joined Representatives Ed Case, Jill Tokuda and Kimberlyn King-Hinds as an original cosponsor of a bipartisan House resolution reaffirming the enduring partnership between the United States and the Pacific Islands Forum and its 18 members. The resolution calls for continued U.S. engagement toward stability, prosperity, and peace in the Pacific.

“American Samoa is proud to be part of the United States and proud to be part of the Pacific,” Amata said. “Those two reationships are not in conflict. They reinforce one another, and I will continue working in Congress to make sure that the United States remains a strong, reliable, and respectful partner in our region.”

Amata will continue participating in meetings and engagements in Palau throughout the week.