Amata Welcomes $400,000 DOJ Grant

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is welcoming a grant of $400,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs to the American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency.

"Congratulations to CJPA Director Mariana Timu-Faiai and her team, for their efforts in qualifying for these federal funds, especially as this was a discretionary and competitive grant," Amata said. "I know this assistance will be put to good use, including supporting the employment of personnel."

The grant program was initially authorized by Congress in the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, a legacy of long-serving, recently retired Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), and signed into law by President George W. Bush, followed by subsequent appropriations by Congress last year for the current Fiscal Year 2021, in support of the Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program.

American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency will use these federal funds to retain three registry personnel who handle tracking and fingerprinting of sex offenders in its SOR program, in addition to use of these funds in other support, such as office supplies.

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