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Close-Up Kids Join Amata on Dais

May 19, 2016

Washington, D.C. –Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, during a legislative hearing, held by the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular & Alaska Native Affairs, invited a large group of students who were visiting Washington as part of the Close-Up program, onto the dais usually reserved strictly for Committee Members.

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Close Up Kids on Dais

17 students from American Samoa as part of the Close-Up program were invited onto the dais
during a House Natural Resources IIA&A Subcommittee hearing

Congresswoman Amata serves as the Vice Chairman of the subcommittee and took the opportunity to welcome the group to the hearing and proudly introduced them to the Members of the Subcommittee.
“I would like to take a minute to introduce some special guests here with us today. These 17 students and their teachers, who are part of the Close-Up program, have travelled 10,000 miles to be here today, and I would like to welcome them,” continued Amata.

To the surprise of those in attendance, and the delight of the children, Chairman Don Young of Alaska then invited the group to sit up on the dais with the members during the hearing stating, “Come up here, you can be Members of Congress for a little while”. Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the group’s trip to Washington and something those children will never forget.

The Close-Up program is a federally funded project that allows kids from across the nation to visit their legislators in Washington, D.C. and whose mission is to “inform, inspire, and empower young people to exercise the rights and accept the responsibilities of citizens in a democracy.”

Included in the group were: Chaperones: Ane Tofili and Folau Faafetai Teofilo; and Students: Aleluia Vanina, Chloe Tuaua, Rami Fatialofa, Sheralyn Leota, Mary Taimane Malubay, Raquel Balza, Rosily Taulaga, Tedy Barber, John Iosefo, Kiso Skelton, Abigail Saui’a, Della Sene, Liter Pase, Alphina Liusamoa, Azariah Maiava, Sabrina Uipo, and Gabrielle Langkilde.

“We all know that Chairman Young is a good and kind man, and this is just another example of how he goes out of his way to make sure that all are included and feel welcomed,” said Amata. “In all of my years working in Washington, I have never seen Non-Members invited onto the dais during a hearing. What a valuable opportunity for our students to watch the process and see the importance of the work we as Members of Congress do on a daily basis,” concluded Amata.

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Issues:Education