Amata’s IGIA Message Calls for Fishing Restoration and to Remember U.S. Nationals in Policy
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata gave remarks Wednesday at IGIA, which was hosted by the Department of the Interior at their DC headquarters.
Congresswoman Amata thanked Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula, the governors and congressional representatives from the other territories, and interagency officials, which included Scott Cameron, Senior Advisor to the Secretary Exercising the delegated authority of the Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs; and Alex Meyer, Director, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Amata’s remarks referenced her recent letter to President Trump, copied to key officials, on the urgent need to reopen fishing in the Pacific Marine Monuments.
“The proposal to re-allow fishing in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument between 50 & 200 miles offshore – something your predecessor, Secretary Zinke, proposed the last time President Trump was in office in 2017 – is necessary to protect the United States fishing industry. Large swaths of the Pacific Ocean have been cut off from fishing access, and this process has been expanded upon again and again without scientific merit and without proper input from the communities and fishermen who are most affected,” she said.
“This is also a matter of National Security, as Illegal and Unreported Fishing and Chinese dominance in the region has only increased while the US fleet continues to shrink. To that end, I believe it is imperative for the safety of American Samoa, the United States, and the Pacific for a permanent Coast Guard station to be established in American Samoa. The white hulls of the Coast Guard are one the best deterrents to Chinese malign influence in the South Pacific. American Samoa has the best deep-water port in the South Pacific and can easily host multiple cutters,” she stated.
“Related to protecting our fishing and security interests is the need to prop up our island’s economies. I have legislation, H.R. 399, that would make the American Samoa Economic Development Tax Credit permanent. Initiatives such as these, which encourage businesses to invest in the otherwise isolated territories, are important to keep us on par with the rest of the country. Each of the governors here today have spoken to their island’s unique challenges and priorities, but the need for continued economic development is something we all have in common as remote islands on a global stage,” Amata continued. “With Mr. Howard Lutnick’s confirmation as Secretary of Commerce, I look forward to working with the Dept. of Commerce, DOI, and the rest of the new administration on these important issues facing our Pacific Island Territories.”
She concluded, “Another thing that I ask the Administration to keep in mind is American Samoa’s unique relationship with the United States. Despite our status as US Nationals rather than US Citizens, we owe our permanent allegiance to the US and remain dedicated to this country’s ideals. As the administration moves forward with their new policies to reform Medicaid or other key benefits for quote unquote ‘citizens,’ please don’t overlook this small but loyal group of Americans due to our technical designation. The 125-year relationship between American Samoa and the federal government is one built on mutual respect and recognition – a relationship I am sure this new Administration intends to continue.”
Her speech thanked federal officials for listening to the territories’ governors, and thanked the DOI for hosting the 2025 Plenary Session of the Interagency Group on Insular Areas.
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