Budget

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is updating American Samoa on the status of the massive budget reconciliation bill, sometimes described as social services and climate legislation, and the specific development that the latest framework for negotiations preserves American Samoa's highest priorities within that bill.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata took part in the conclusion of voting Thursday in the House Committee on Natural Resources regarding a proposed $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill that will continue to be debated in Congress. While aspects of the same legislation were being marked up in other committees of jurisdiction, the Natural Resources Committee finished up a slate of amendments. Among the measures related to the territories and the U.S.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is highlighting Senate passage of an infrastructure bill with $50 million plus additional grant funding for American Samoa. The bill, led by a bipartisan group of eight negotiators, was passed by the U.S. Senate, and must now go to the House. It provides $550 billion nationwide in new appropriations aimed at restoring and improving infrastructure, including roads, bridges, broadband, ports, airports and other aspects.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata highlighted House passage of a major appropriations bill Thursday that funds numerous departments of the U.S. government for the next fiscal year, including the Interior Department. Within this legislation (H.R. 4502) is funding Amata requested for ASG Operations. This $2.5 million increase is the largest ever for the ASG Operations fund, however, Congress designated these funds specifically for planning efforts toward a new hospital.

Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga, Lieutenant Governor Talauega E.V. Ale, and Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata are welcoming good news of federal funds totaling $3,866,108 for a series of projects upon notification from the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) for the American Samoa Government (ASG) through the Office of Insular Affairs' (OIA).

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata welcomed a $472,791 grant from the CDC for public health emergency response.

This discretionary health services grant is for the American Samoa Department of Health through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Center for Preparedness and Response.

"Thank you to Emergency Preparedness Director Ben Sili for his work on this project," said Congresswoman Amata. "Congratulations to Director Motusa Nua for these federal health services funds."

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata welcomed two grants totaling $561,010 in supplemental funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, passed by Congress earlier this year and signed into law in March.

These grants, each an identical $280,505, are for the American Samoa Department of Human and Social Services, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).