Amata Reviews 2023 Efforts in Natural Resources Committee
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is reviewing the year’s work in the House Natural Resources Committee, one of her three committees, highlighting the passage of the South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act she sponsored, and her chairmanship of the Committee’s Indo-Pacific Task Force.
Congresswoman Amata greeting committee chairman Westerman
“I’ve served on the Natural Resources Committee since day one of my first year in Congress,” said Congresswoman Amata. “It’s a great Committee for America Samoa with oversight of the Department of Interior including their work with the insular areas, and water and fishing roles. I wanted to sum up the year’s efforts, and especially thank Chairman Bruce Westerman along with Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva, and Task Force Co-Chairman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, as there are a lot of Committee achievements to be happy with in 2023.”
The Committee held 92 hearings, considering 114 bills in legislative hearings (multiple per hearing), and passing 62 bills. The Committee received testimony from 79 Biden Administration officials, including Cabinet level and agency heads, and submitted 32 oversight letters.
In addition to duties chairing the Task Force, Amata serves on the two Subcommittees related most to American Samoa: The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fishing; and the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.
She took part in Chairman Westerman’s bipartisan CODEL and held a leadership role in passing the renewal of the Compacts of Free Association agreements with the Freely Associated States, which will maintain U.S. strategic priorities in the Pacific region. Amata urges final passage of this priority for our COFA allies.
In September, Amata spoke on fishing rights at the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing that examined U.S. waters and the marine sanctuary and monument, titled, “Examining Barriers to Access in Federal Waters: A Closer Look at the Marine Sanctuary and Monument System.” In several opportunities this year, Amata urged adherence to Buy American policies applied to tuna, which would ensure U.S. tuna in school lunch programs and U.S. military and VA purchases, strengthening U.S. tuna production.
In October, the Committee passed the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, which Amata sponsored, codifying international diplomatic agreements to protect more U.S. fleet tuna access.
In November, Amata cosponsored the bipartisan Expanding Public Land and Outdoor Recreation Access (EXPLORE) Act, comprehensive legislation to support recreational access and opportunities.
Also, in part within this Committee’s jurisdiction, Amata has introduced two key bills specific to American Samoa: H.R. 6061 to allow simpler conversion to citizenship for any U.S. National choosing to do so as an individual, and H.R. 6062 allowing for American Samoa to enact constitutional changes as approved by the people without unnecessary additional procedures in Washington. She is anticipating a hearing on this effort in early 2024.
Overall, the Committee has focused on reducing energy costs nationwide, notably making the 118th Congress’s first bill, H.R.1, a comprehensive energy policy bid to reduce prices for many goods and services.
Other efforts increasing mineral production for U.S. self-reliance, historic permitting reforms for economic growth, various oversight efforts of federal activities, forest care, encouraging healthy outdoor recreation across the board, and passage of NOAA Pacific research bills.
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