Amata Emphasizes Coast Guard Role in U.S. Activity in the Indo-Pacific Region
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata took part in a Thursday oversight hearing examining the United States Coast Guard’s contributions to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, and the importance of the region to U.S. security interests. For purposes of participating in this hearing, Congresswoman Amata was waived onto the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, led by ChairmanCarlos Gimenez (R-FL). Congresswoman Amata highlighted the need for a permanent U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) presence in American Samoa to effectively counter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the South Pacific.
Amata in Coast Guard hearing
“The Coast Guard is one of the most important and effective tools that the U.S has in countering the PRC’s malign influence of pacific waters,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Everywhere I go in the Indo-Pacific, their leaders tell me, the two things they want most are Coast Guard and Peace Corps.”
During his testimony, Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson, Commander, Pacific Area, United States Coast Guard, noted that the U.S. Coast Guard only has an episodic presence in American Samoa. Chairman Gimenez said in response, “I’m concerned that we have episodic presence in American territory.”
Amata discussing USCG issues
The Chairman continued, “So whatever the Coast Guard can do to have a permanent presence in American Samoa, especially in light of the fact that we see much more aggressive action by the CCP, the PRC, the fishing fleets that are ravaging fish stocks around the world. We don’t want that to happen in American Samoa or any American territory.”
In her comments and questioning of witnesses, Congresswoman Amata emphasized, “American Samoa is the only U.S. jurisdiction south of the equator, and we are a gateway to the South Pacific, with the best deep-water port within 2,500 miles.”
Video of the entire hearing is available HERE with Amata speaking with witnesses at the 51:05 mark, and again at the 1:12:56 mark, with the Chairman’s closing remarks at 1:16:47 about prioritizing the USCG presence in American Samoa.
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