Amata Testifies Before Budget Committee
Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, testified before the House Budget Committee on Capitol Hill during the Member’s Day hearing, which allows members from both parties five minutes to present their “guidance” for the coming year’s budget.
Flanked by her colleagues, Congresswoman Amata testifies before the House Budget Committee
“It is my mission to see that the people of American Samoa are afforded the same opportunities and resources as their countrymen here in the states and the other territories, which is why I serve as the Vice Chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs, and it is in that capacity that I speak to you today,” said Amata. “The dedication of the people of the territories to the United States is unquestioned, as evidenced by their unmatched rate of enlistment into our nation’s armed forces, and we are grateful for all funding assistance. However, for many years now, the territories have been shortchanged, and even left out all together when it comes to funding from the federal government,” continued the Congresswoman.
During her testimony, the Congresswoman touched on some of the issues facing American Samoa including, the lack of proper funds for LBJ hospital, the discrepancies between the states and territories in terms of education funding per student, and the lack of transportation and infrastructure funding for road and bridge upkeep, to name just a few.
“In order to maintain and even improve the quality of life, create economic opportunity, and promote efficient and effective governance in the territories; I am also in support of increases to the budget of the Office of Insular Affairs, for activities in Technical Assistance, and Maintenance Assistance, all of which address top concerns identified by island leadership and benefit all insular areas.,” stated Amata.
The House Budget Committee will now consider the testimony given by the members who appeared before them today, and will begin to formulate the upcoming Concurrent resolution for Fiscal Year 2017, which begins in October of this year.
“I want to close by encouraging you all to find ways to increase the funding for the territories, which have been no more than scraps off the table thus far. In what would amount to just a small drop in the bucket, would do so much in alleviating the discrepancies between the states and territories,” concluded Amata.
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