Healthcare

Washington, D.C.—Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata debated on the House floor to urge support for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Following debate, the bill passed with bipartisan support. President Trump has said he will sign the historic economic security aid package, which contains $2 trillion in unemployment help and financial assistance for people, small businesses and the economy, as well as important health funding such as testing equipment.

Washington, D.C. — Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomes notice of an Office of Insular Affairs grant for COVID-19 testing equipment, and said the $2 trillion CARES Act contains expanded national funding for testing to make it widely available and speed up the distribution as part of $1.5 billion to CDC.

Washington, D.C.—Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is highlighting numerous areas of assistance in the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), S. 3548, including personal stimulus checks and unemployment funds, passed by the Senate early Thursday for consideration by the House yet this week.

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming a second health grant from recently passed Coronavirus response efforts, with more comprehensive assistance to come as Congress considers a $2 trillion economic and health care response package this week.

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department through HRSA is providing a Coronavirus response grant of $58,550 to the American Samoa Department of Health for coronavirus supplemental funding for health centers.

Washington, D.C.—Saturday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is highlighting an increase in the federal share for the Territory's Medicaid. As a result of Coronavirus response legislation, the federal share for American Samoa will rise from 83 percent to 89.2 percent (trimming the local match to 10.8 percent). This change to FMAP will last throughout the current emergency.

Washington, D.C.—Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming the prompt action this week by both the U.S. Senate and President Trump, who signed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, into law. This is the second legislative response to the coronavirus, with a third major bill – estimated as a trillion-dollar investment in the economy – now in the early stages of being developed.

Washington, D.C.—Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming House passage late Monday of revised economic legislation, H Res 904, in direct response to the Coronavirus and helping people during its impact on economic conditions. This Resolution updated the bill, H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which initially passed Friday of last week. This allows the Senate to now take up the bill.

Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming $370,247 in federal health services funds for the American Samoa Department of Health for public health crisis response.

This is a discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) designated for the Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response. Specifically, the funds are through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and their Coordinating Office for Preparedness & Emergency Response.