Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act, introduced July 9th by Congressman Harley Rouda (D-CA) and Congressman Ted Budd (R-NC) with Congresswoman Amata and other bipartisan support.

This bill would help ensure Drug-Free Communities coalitions and grantees can continue operations and efforts to reduce youth substance use during and despite the COVID-19 pandemic and related issues.

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed an education grant for American Samoa of over $4 million for Head Start. This federal funding is through the U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) — the second HHS Head Start grant since late June.

Specifically, this discretionary grant to the American Samoa Department of Education is for $4,061,430 as designated to Head Start, the early childhood education program. Last month, Congresswoman Amata also welcomed a similar Head Start grant of $1,170,572.

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed the announcement by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross that the Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million grant to the American Samoa Shipyard Services Authority, Pago Pago, to support the acquisition of equipment, machinery, and tools needed to modernize the Shipyard Service Facility located in a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Opportunity Zone.

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed the announcement by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross that the Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the American Samoa Government, Pago Pago, to capitalize and administer a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) that will provide critical gap financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs across American Samoa adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata worked with lead sponsor Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Rep. Greg Walden (OR-02), and Rep. Colin Allred (TX-32) in introducing bipartisan legislation to re-authorize a successful Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) work-study program in congressional offices, allowing veterans to assist their fellow veterans with accessing the benefits and services they've earned.

Washington, D.C. – Sunday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed the news that Judge Faauuga Toʻotoʻo has been retained to another ten-year term as Judge on the Circuit Court of the First Circuit in Hawai'i.

"Congratulations to Judge Faauuga Toʻotoʻo on this prestigious position and important responsibility," said Aumua Amata. "He is one of our own from Nuuuli. He is highly qualified and experienced, and his retention is the right decision. I know he will continue doing a great job, and being a credit to American Samoa."

Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed a successful first step this week for the major appropriations bill that will fund Interior Appropriations for American Samoa, and said the House bill writers have included her request for a fourth straight yearly increase for American Samoa's budget. This increase is over $3 million more than the federal budget proposal that came from the Interior Department, and $500,000 more than the most recent final appropriated amount.

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is providing an update on federal oversight of the CARES Act and other economic relief funds. This information includes the process, federal requirements for these funds, and contact information to report any waste, fraud or abuse of such funding.