Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata attended the moving Honor Carry Ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawai'i receiving back the remains of Korean War fallen American soldiers repatriated from North Korea. Vice President Pence and Indo-Pacific Command (PACOM) Commander Admiral Phil Davidson, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawai'i, invited military officers and Korean War veterans were there to pay respects to these honored soldiers on their way to a properly marked resting place in the United States.

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed Senate passage of a package of Appropriations bills, including Interior Appropriations, that contains her requests for the $718,000 increase for American Samoa Government, and provides for an official report to Congress on the condition of the LBJ Tropical Medical Center.

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed nearly $3.9 million for the Head Start program in American Samoa. These funds are designated to the American Samoa Department of Education for Head Start over the span of a five-year project by the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF).

Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed $1 million in federal funding for Fitiuta Airport.

"The Fitiuta Airport is essential to travel between Manu'a and Tutuila, and an important asset to American Samoa," said Aumua Amata. "The FAA is recognizing the need to maintain our runway there for our long-term use, and this is good news from the FAA."

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata joined colleagues on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs in speaking at a press conference in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center to highlight recent progress and the path forward on veterans' legislation. The Veterans' Affairs Committee has been on a busy pace, with 72 bills passed by the full House of Representatives, and of those, 26 so far signed into law by President Trump.

Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed Senate confirmation of Robert Wilkie to lead the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA).

Secretary Wilkie was nominated by President Trump to serve as VA Secretary during the ongoing legislative and administrative reform efforts to the department, and the U.S. Senate confirmed his appointment late Monday by a bipartisan vote of 86-9.

Washington, D.C. – This week, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed House passage of the Interior Appropriations bill that prevents cuts for American Samoa Government, and preserves last year's increase of $250,000.

The House bill's advance is a necessary step before it will either be combined with or replaced by a separate Senate bill that contains $718,000 in new funds and an LBJ hospital study for American Samoa. Congresswoman Amata supports the Senate bill provisions, but welcomed the progress that this week's House action represents.

Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed a food safety grant of nearly $50,000 in federal funds for the American Samoa Department of Agriculture.

"Food safety is an important priority, and I'm glad to see these federal funds to help our Agriculture Department provide this program," said Aumua Amata. "Grants like these are a way to boost the services available in American Samoa."