Interior

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata gave remarks Thursday at the Interagency Group on Insular Affairs (IGIA), a special mid-year session hosted by the Department of the Interior (DOI) at their DC headquarters, and focused her remarks on several issues that are critical to the local economy of American Samoa, and called for full inclusion in federal programs like SSI and removing the Medicaid cap completely.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming a grant from the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), as also sent to Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula, advising of $250,000 to the American Samoa Government (ASG) Department of Treasury through the OIA Technical Assistance Program. 

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is releasing some of her questions for Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), which she will submit for responses as part of a congressional hearing. 

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which governs critical minerals exploration of the seabed, is part of DOI, and Amata’s questions primarily center on recently announced federal seabed critical minerals efforts, which will include a public comment period. 

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming the announcement of North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as the nominee for Secretary of the Interior. 

“Governor Burgum is a seasoned executive as a two-term governor and former technology CEO, and a great choice to lead the Department of the Interior,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “American Samoa’s closest working relationship with the federal government is through the Interior Department, and we can know that it will be in good hands with this excellent nomination.”

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata celebrated the Fourth of July at the Department of the Interior’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., with Secretary Deb Haaland and Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen Cantor. Within their administration roles, as delegated by the U.S. Congress and its House and Senate Natural Resources Committees, these two DOI leaders have the most federal influence over policies in the territories.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata took part in relevant hearings and once again strongly emphasized to administration officials the facts about American Samoa’s local economy and the fishing issue, and the importance of the OIA role. She welcomed new OIA Director John Brewer with a meeting in her DC congressional office, having first met him last month at Flag Day celebrations in American Samoa.