Aumua Urges House to Hold the Line On Funding
Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, During the debate on fiscal year 2016 Interior Department appropriations bill yesterday, I took to the Floor to urge my colleagues to maintain funding for American Samoa at its current levels. In a colloquy with bill manager Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), I acknowledged the budgetary pressures Congress is facing and commended Calvert for recommending to the House that there be no reduction in funding for American Samoa next year.
"Mr. Chairman, the world has changed much since the inception of the program to assist American Samoa Government operations and additional needs have arisen. Local revenues have remained relatively constant, and the infrastructure has become dated and in disrepair, which has caused undue hardship to both our people and businesses that rely upon our roads, airport and port, said Amata. In fact, the recent decision by the NOAA National Weather Service to terminate weather observation service in American Samoa, which our local airport relies upon for flight operations, has prompted the need for the construction of a tower at Pago Pago International Airport. This facility would serve as a standard control tower and would also contain the weather monitoring service after NOAA ceases operations," continued Amata.
Congresswoman Aumua Amata and Chairman Ken Calvert engage in a colloquy on the House Floor during amendment debate for the FY 2016 Interior Appropriations bill
Engaging in a colloquy with Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), who serves as the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Amata acknowledged the budgetary pressures Congress is facing and commended Chairman Calvert for recommending to the House that there be no reduction in funding for American Samoa next year.
"My home district was devastated by a tsunami on Sept 29, 2009 that killed many of our people. I was there at the time. If it hadn't been for the fact that I had a scheduled meeting at that very time and was already awake, I would have been killed by the wave. We also lost our tuna cannery the day after the tsunami which was half of our private sector employment," said Amata. "We are also suffering from the prolonged recession here in the States, and suffered another setback with the recent longshoremen's strike that exposed just how dependent we are on outside resources. Chairman Calvert, I encourage the committee that, when considering funding levels for the territories, to keep in mind our economic and geographic isolation and the extreme disparity in opportunities for growth between these regions and the states," continued Amata.
In response, Chairman Calvert extended his own remarks to the Congresswoman stating, "As someone who has always had the utmost respect for our fellow countrymen from the territories, I look forward to working with the gentlewoman from American Samoa and I want to thank her for her efforts to inform the committee of the issues facing the Insular Areas. I am well aware of just how dedicated to our nation the people of American Samoa are, as displayed by their extremely high rate of enlistment into our country's armed forces. Your membership in this body is highly valued and your appointment as Vice Chairman of the Indian, Insular and Native Alaskan Affairs Subcommittee as a first term Member is a testament to the perspective and leadership you bring to Congress. I know that through your leadership, your people are well represented and have found themselves a champion for their cause."
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