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Amata Welcomes HHS/HRSA Grant of $745,000 in New Funds from CARES Act

April 7, 2020

Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming another health grant for the second straight day — $745,000 for American Samoa Community Health Centers — this time from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and once again directly through the recent congressional appropriations in the CARES Act.

One day previously, American Samoa welcomed a separate grant of $740,000 to the Health Department and LBJ Tropical Medical Center. While both grants fall under the U. S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Department, Tuesday's announcement is via HRSA and Monday's was via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Both grants directly involve COVID-19 response.

In March, both CDC and HRSA also supplied other initial grants specifically for coronavirus efforts, so that the HHS total for American Samoa is over $1.9 million so far since Congress began passing legislation last month due to coronavirus, while the Housing and Urban Development HUD Department recently announced an additional $800,000 for coronavirus-related needs.

"The CARES Act is a major appropriations response to the need to quickly prepare medical facilities, equipment and personnel for COVID-19 response," said Aumua Amata. "Congratulations to Executive Director Kenn Kuaea for these efforts at the American Samoa Community Health Centers."

Specifically, the discretionary HRSA grant of $745,580 is for Health Center Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funding.

Led by Administrator Thomas Engels, HRSA is the primary federal agency for improving health care to people who are geographically isolated, economically or medically vulnerable, managing 90 different programs within this mission.

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Issues:Healthcare