Amata Introduces ‘American Samoa Investment Act’ to Strengthen Job Creation

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata introduced legislation to improve job creation opportunities in American Samoa and increase the potential of attracting foreign investors by fixing a gap in the EB-5 Visa requirements that directly affects American Samoa.

"Current law has a significant job creation incentive that ignores American Samoa and U.S. Nationals, in favor of not only citizens but also green card holders, and we need to be included," said Aumua Amata. "This is a matter of simple fairness and common sense. Under current law, American Samoa is at a unique disadvantage on the EB-5 Visa job creation incentive, and there's no apparent reason for this provision to exclude jobs for U.S. Nationals. My legislation would correct the problem and level the playing field for American Samoa."

Specifically, through the EB-5 Visa program, the law provides an incentive for foreign investors to start a business in the U.S. or U.S. territories if that business will create jobs for ten people. However, those employees are specified as U.S. citizens or green card holders, meaning that – as written – the law that's in place doesn't apply the same incentive in American Samoa, where the available workforce is primarily made up of U.S. nationals.

The Congresswoman's bill, entitled the American Samoa Investment Act, eliminates this gap in the law and includes U.S. Nationals in this job creation incentive.

"I want to thank my friends, Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón of Puerto Rico and Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, for joining me in this effort," continued Congresswoman Amata. "This measure could be an important deciding factor for a future employer. My legislation would promote a fair and reasonable solution, and I am working to get the word out in Washington, D.C."

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