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Amata Compiles Bipartisan Legislative Record

March 20, 2019

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is pleased to report to her constituents that she ranked 28th in bipartisan legislative activity out of 441 Members of the House of Representatives for the entire 115th Congress, which ended in January.

This nonpartisan analysis compiled all the sponsorships and co-sponsorships of bills over two years, and placed Rep. Amata in the upper 6.35 percent of the House in bipartisan co-sponsorships. The report was released this week by the nonpartisan Lugar Center, which is based at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy.

"It's a good sign when legislative policy is able to attract broad support in Congress, including different regions of the country," said Aumua Amata. "In the 116th Congress, the only kind of legislation that can possibly be signed into law is bipartisan legislation, because to become law it must pass both the House and the Senate. For me, the decision to cosponsor a bill is based first of all on how it affects American Samoa."

 

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Women's History background


Congresswoman Amata and educators visiting the Department of Education from American Samoa during Women's History Month. The trip to DC included American Samoa's Director of Education Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga, Lydia Amisone, Elaine Niko, Opa Sotoa, Peter Togasii, Pua Isopo, Solomona Tuisamatatele, Sosafina Lafaele, Talosia Uperesa, Teresita Almendras, Tony Atualevao.

 

Many of the Members in the top 6 percent for bipartisanship have since left Congress, leaving her among the top 15 of those remaining experienced Members going forward in the 116th Congress. Among those similarly ranked near her on the list are two Members she works with frequently on issues important to either the Territories in general or the Pacific region. They are Rep. Don Young of Alaska, the Dean of the House, and Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon of Puerto Rico.

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