Amata Welcomes Proposal to End Shutdown
Washington, DC – Saturday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed a compromise proposal to end the shutdown:
"The President is showing his willingness for genuine negotiations to end the shutdown, and made a responsible effort that should be thoroughly considered by my colleagues in the Congress in both parties. This has the potential to free up the Senate to move forward with necessary disaster assistance for American Samoa and elsewhere in the country that needs help urgently, including my amendment for $5 million in nutrition assistance and requested Medicaid relief, which is likely another $10 million or more for our Islands, as passed last week in the House.
"This is a positive step, and frankly, the first real possibility for true progress on the shutdown in weeks. I hope to see good faith negotiations on both sides, and momentum turn towards an end to the shutdown. Because I know so many of my friends on both sides of the aisle, and their spirit of public service, I remain optimistic that common sense can prevail, and the shutdown can end soon.
"If a grand compromise is eventually reached between the President and Congress on an overall spending bill, which is the only way forward, the emergency supplemental appropriations bill with funding for American Samoa will likely be included in it."
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