Amata Emphasizes Fishing Issues and Pacific Security at Indo-Pacific Hearing
Washington, D.C. –Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata urgently emphasized fishing issues in a hearing last week, in light of President Biden’s plan to set aside 777,000 square miles of the Pacific, reducing the fishing available to American Samoa’s fleet and tuna cannery.
The occasion was a hearing of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific, on which Amata serves as Vice Chairman, entitled, Renewed U.S. Engagement in the Pacific: Assessing the Importance of the Pacific Islands.
“I am for both sound ocean resource conservation and national security, but yesterday President Biden proposed eliminating U.S. and American Samoan fishing grounds larger than Alaska and Colorado combined, according to the President,” Congresswoman Amata said. “Well, I think he took some bad advice on this ocean conservation proposal that may hand PRC (People’s Republic of China) a win in the Pacific. By initiating this National Marine Sanctuary designation process without consultation, or mitigation of expected economic hardship on American Samoa’s cannery workers, small businesses and family enterprises, the President treated our territory less favorably than PRC treats Pacific islands that are aligned with Beijing, or that are at risk of surrendering to PRC domination. Our Compact partner nations whose security and well-being we are here to consider today must wonder if the U.S. is prepared to out-compete PRC.”
Video of Amata’s statement and exchanges, available here, begins about the 1:03:25 mark and last about four minutes, including responses from the State Department official.
In other action in the Foreign Affairs Committee last week, the House passed H.R. 1093, a bill Amata cosponsored, directing the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a report on implementation of the advanced capabilities pillar of the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Also, Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified before the Committee in an oversight hearing regarding the administration providing information requested by Congress on serious issues surrounding the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The Veterans’ Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing with VA Secretary Denis McDonough regarding the VA Budget request for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Vice Chairman Amata asked about the care of women veterans, applauding the hiring of more women veteran health professionals, but noting that half of all women veterans are not yet using their VA benefits and services. Video of her question is available here beginning around the 52:40 mark with Secretary McDonough’s answer, in all lasting over four minutes.
Also, in the full Committee business meeting, the Committee reauthorized the Women Veterans Task Forcewith Amata serving as Chairman of the Task Force.
In the Natural Resources Committee, Chairman Bruce Westerman led an oversight letter to the administration, signed by Congresswoman Aumua Amata, urging them to be more transparent about recent actions on onshore oil and gas development, and referencing high energy and fuel costs.
Both of the Natural Resources Subcommittees on which Amata serves also held hearings. The Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held a legislative hearing on bills to increase tribal authority, autonomy, and local control over their lands, which reflects Amata’s support for self-determination principles that apply to American Samoa. Also, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held an initial hearing to begin examination of possible improvements the Endangered Species Act (ESA), during the 50th anniversary year of the ESA.
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