Natural Resources
Natural Resources is important to the growth and stability of American Samoa's economy.
More on Natural Resources
Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata highlighted the advancement of legislation that would lead to road improvements for American Samoa as the House passed H.R. 3684, the INVEST in America Act. This Act authorizes $343 billion for roads, bridges and safety measures, $109 billion for transit, $95 billion for passenger and freight rail, $117 billion for drinking water infrastructure resources and roughly $51 billion for wastewater infrastructure.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata drew attention to LBJ in a Wednesday hearing of the full Natural Resources Committee in which Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland was testifying.
Amata once again pressed the message that LBJ Tropical Medical Center has major modernization needs as documented in a study by the Army Corps of Engineers. The oversight hearing was titled, Examining the Department of the Interior's Spending Priorities and the President's Fiscal Year Budget 2022 Proposal.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata focused on coral reef health in a Tuesday hearing of the Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife (WOW).

Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Trillion Trees Act of 2021, introduced this week with Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Bruce Westerman, who is a licensed forester, and the support of more than 70 Members.

Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is has urged an expansion of access to federal programs in U.S. Territories as part of a bipartisan effort in which Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and the five territorial Members of Congress wrote to Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Shalanda Young. These programs include Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata highlighted National Agriculture Day, and all those in American Samoa who grow and harvest the fresh island fruits and crops.
"Happy National Agriculture Day to all of our people that grow our delicious local island favorites," she said. "In American Samoa, we're blessed to have bananas, coconuts, taro, papayas, breadfruit, sweet potatoes and more! Thank you to everyone who helps make these healthy foods available for our families."

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata took part in a March 11 hearing of the Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife (WOW). This was the Subcommittee's first hearing of 2021, following Committee organization last month, but it will take up topics over the rest of the 117th Congress that include issues that affect American Samoa, such as fisheries and marine life, coral reef and shoreline policies, drinking water resources and other important matters.
"Grant programs can be difficult to implement in the territories due to lack of resources," said Aumua Amata.
Pago Pago – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed notification of three grants affecting American Samoa from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including one directly for American Samoa. NOAA is announcing their Coral Reef Conservation funding for 2020, with one grant of about $500,000 specific to American Samoa, and two other efforts that include American Samoa.

Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata took part in an effort led by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) and supported by the bipartisan Members of Congress from Hawai‘i and the U.S. Island Territories. Together, these Representatives sent a letter to U.S. House leaders urging them to support local crop diversity and food security in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis and in any resulting legislation.