Economy & Jobs (Small Business)

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is calling for rapid passage of the necessary Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds to process loans that are already in the pipeline, and help potential applicants who have not yet completed the process.

Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming U.S. Department of Labor publication of direction to states and territories for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), an important step in getting this unemployment relief on the way.

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata hailed Committee passage of a bipartisan bill to strengthen the future of fishing. She is an original cosponsor of the bill and was pleased to vote for it on Wednesday in the Natural Resources Committee, where it passed by unanimous consent. The bill promotes the development of the next generation of commercial fishermen with new federal grant support.

Washington, D.C. – This week, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming another positive development in Congress, the extension of the American Samoa Economic Development Credit, an ongoing policy priority for American Samoa's jobs and local economy.

"Congress is extending the American Samoa Economic Development Credit, and that's more good news for the stability of our local economy," said Aumua Amata. "This important policy has supported the long-term presence of jobs and commercial activity in American Samoa for years."

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata highlighted House passage of the Small Business Development Centers Improvements Act, H.R. 4406, which would reauthorize the much-needed SBDC program for four years. As original cosponsor, she joined Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) on this legislative effort, which passed overwhelmingly this week with bipartisan support.

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata announced she is an original cosponsor and lead Republican of a bipartisan effort to assist women entrepreneurs. The bill sponsored by Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) was introduced this week to help reestablish federal coordinated efforts aimed at helping women-owned businesses succeed.

Specifically, the bill would reauthorize the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise (ICWBE), a U.S. government entity that would be tasked with coordinating federal resources to help women-owned businesses grow.

Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata highlighted congressional action from 2015 resulting in a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study team's current efforts in American Samoa to report on the Territory's minimum wage.

"In 2015, I sponsored a bill which passed into law, in which Congress directed the GAO to conduct this study of our minimum wage for 2020," said Aumua Amata. "I'm happy to see the GAO team at work here in American Samoa, learning firsthand about our economy, so we can have the best possible minimum wage policy going forward."

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed progress for the Small Business Development Centers Improvements Act, H.R. 4406. She cosponsored this legislation, and the Committee on Small Business passed the bill with bipartisan support.