Amata Welcomes Incoming Congressional Western Caucus Leadership
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, who serves on the Caucus’s Executive Committee as a Vice Chairman, is welcoming the new Congressional Western Caucus Chairwoman, Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (Utah-02), who was already in a senior leadership position, and Executive Vice Chairman Congressman Nick Begich (Alaska), who is taking over Chairwoman Maloy’s former role as Executive Vice Chairman, in leading the Caucus for the remainder of the 119th Congress.
The Congressional Western Caucus held its election on January 22 to fill the vacancy of its chair, and Chairwoman Maloy was unanimously elected.
On Saturday, Congresswoman Amata traveled with Speaker Mike Johnson, incoming Chairwoman Celeste Maloy and fifteen Members of Congress to attend the late Chairman Doug LaMalfa’s celebration of life in Chico, California.
Vice Chairman Amata said, “Congratulations to Chairwoman Maloy and Executive Vice Chairman Begich. Both are excellent choices to lead our Caucus, and they will honor the legacy of our friend, the late Chairman Doug LaMalfa. Their districts provide deep familiarity of the issues we work on to champion rural and remote communities. Thank you to both of them for taking on these added leadership responsibilities.”
Congresswoman Amata continued, “The Congressional Western Caucus is one of the largest issue-based caucuses in Congress, including influential committee chairmen and senior Members of Congress within its membership, who often lead major legislation. The Caucus places a focus on the rural and remote parts of our great country, including distant places with technological, infrastructure, or health care access needs, so I’m happy to serve American Samoa as part of the Western Caucus, where issues often reflect some of our work in the Natural Resources Committee.”
Chairwoman Maloy said, “I am deeply honored and humbled to have been elected Chair of the Western Caucus. The trust my colleagues have placed in me especially as I step into the figuratively and literally large shoes of the late Chairman Doug LaMalfa is not lost on me. Doug was a relentless champion for rural America, and filling his shoes, along with those of
the leaders who came before him, is a tall order but it’s one I am ready to attack with everything I have. The Western Caucus name may suggest the West, but our mission is national. Rural America and natural resources live in every state, and I will lead this Caucus with urgency, strength, and grit to ensure those communities are heard, defended, and never ignored.”
Executive Vice Chairman Begich said, “I am honored to be elected Vice Chair of the Congressional Western Caucus and grateful for the confidence my colleagues have placed in me. I want to congratulate my colleague, Congresswoman Maloy from the great state of Utah who will serve as Chairwoman of the Caucus. The Western Caucus plays an important role in advancing policies that strengthen America’s rural communities and promote responsible resource development. These issues are especially important to Alaska, and I look forward to working with Chairman Maloy and my colleagues in the Caucus to ensure rural America has a strong voice in Congress.” Amata’s prior statement is HERE honoring the life and memory of her friend, the late Congressman LaMalfa, who was serving as Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus at the time of his passing.
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