Natural Resources

Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata attended the Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing, and welcomed the unity of message among the several Territories in the testimony on shared needs that include American Samoa, such as efforts to extend Medicaid funds.

Washington, DC – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata announced that she will continue to serve and gained seniority on three Committees for the 116th Congress: the Natural Resources Committee, the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and the Small Business Committee.

Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata highlighted a busy week in Washington that included a focus on the Pacific region. The House passed two Resolutions emphasizing U.S.-Pacific relations, and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provided an update on American Samoa's coral reefs.

Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed House action passing a series of bills which she supported in the House Natural Resources Committee, along with a Veterans' bill as Congress works to wrap up more of the year's final business.

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata's bill (H.R. 5025) to put sensible time limits on any government fines and penalties for fishing vessels was marked up and passed by the Natural Resources Committee.
Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming $560,000 in federal funds for the Territory's cooperative agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for coral reef conservation, along with a related grant that also includes American Samoa.

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata voted on a series of ten bills marked up and passed by the Natural Resources Committee, and notably, cosponsored and supported a bipartisan bill sponsored by Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) to designate Pacific World War II sites in Hawai'i as national sites for permanent preservation.

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata voted for the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act, H.R. 6510, which she cosponsored. This legislation provides funding to reduce maintenance backlogs and support restorative efforts at National Parks and wildlife refuges. The bill, introduced by Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) with substantial bipartisan backing, was passed Thursday by the Natural Resources Committee.

Pago Pago – This week, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed the opportunity to speak to the 40th meeting of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, including highlighting bipartisan federal legislation promoting the long-term health of our coral reefs.

Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed two significant developments for American Samoa, at Amata's request, in the Senate Interior Appropriations bill led by Chairman Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. The bill, unanimously approved with a vote of 31-0 by the Appropriations Committee, includes a $718,000 increase for American Samoa Government operations, and mandates an official report to Congress on the needs of the LBJ Tropical Medical Center.