Amata Welcomes ARPA Funds Extension from U.S. Education Secretary McMahon

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming the decision by Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to extend American Samoa’s time limit for their use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) education funds. 

“My office has worked on this issue and been in repeated contact with USDOE. I appreciate the Secretary’s willingness to schedule a call and be in touch with our office. We were also fortunate that the Secretary was at the Western Governors Association meeting this week, where my husband Fred was there with Governor Palacios of CNMI for an additional reminder of this issue, which worked out well as our Governor wasn’t able to make the trip to the states for this meeting. As part of our office’s efforts, I am already scheduled for a call to the Secretary in a few days so I look forward to thanking her in person for her responsiveness to this important need in American Samoa,” said Congresswoman Amata. “We can’t emphasize our schools enough in building opportunities for our next generation, and I’m delighted we have the continuing chance to put these much-needed dollars to good use. Every effort should be made to complete federally supported projects like these in a timely manner so that federal support is used to the fullest potential possible. Congratulations to our American Samoa Department of Education, with special thanks to Director Maefau Dr. Mary Lauagaia Taufete'e.” 

ARPA was passed by Congress and enacted in 2021, and included substantial support for educational projects and improvements. This decision by Secretary McMahon enables these local initiatives to move forward despite the earlier missed deadline.

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