Amata Pleased with Budget Agreement
Washington, DC –Monday,Congresswoman Aumua Amata, today expressed her satisfaction with the bipartisan budget agreement reached over the weekend for the remainder of the fiscal year. "There's no decrease in Interior funding for American Samoa which includes the hospital, community college, and local government operations," stated Amata.
Congresswoman Amata and Chairman Calvert conduct a colloquy
egarding education funding for AS, on the House floor last year
"A number of constituents have contacted me in the last few months to express their concern regarding federal funding cutbacks for American Samoa. As I have explained, this is really the final Obama budget, not the Trump budget so we are receiving the same money that Interior allocated for FY-2016," stated Amata. "Since last October 1, we have been operating under a series of Continuing Resolutions (CR) which continue funding the government at the same level as last year. There were no reductions in funding when President Trump took office in January, and any statements to the contrary are inaccurate," continued the Congresswoman. The latest CR was set to expire this Friday…The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2017 funds the ASG at the same level until the end of the fiscal year- September 30, 2017.
Continuing her statement, Amata said, "Consideration of the first Trump budget will begin this month. I will be asking for an increase in funding for American Samoa just as we did with the elementary and secondary student funding program last year. However, according to federal officials, any increase in operations grant funding will be contingent on ASG performance and needs. I will take a look at grant funds we get from other federal agencies, and I hope we will be funded at the same if not increased levels, because overall spending on domestic programs increased in the deal concluded over the weekend.
"I ask everyone to remember that it is Congress that determines spending, not the Executive Branch. As the old saying goes: "The President proposes; the Congress disposes." My staff and I are working very hard to see to it that American Samoa is protected in its federal funding," concluded the Congresswoman.
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