Press Releases
Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed Congressional action renewing funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which helps ensure access to medical care for many children throughout the country, including American Samoa. Congresswoman Amata also called for the program to be fully reauthorized and funded for the long term.
Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata highlighted veterans' legislation that passed the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the Committee's final votes of 2017. The bill was introduced in early November with the support of Congresswoman Amata as an original cosponsor of the legislative effort, and strengthened by an amendment in markup to better assess health care in U.S. territories, including American Samoa.
Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata released a statement on the outcome of House and Senate negotiations that produced a final major tax reform bill that reduces taxes and promotes economic growth. The bill leaves all tax extenders, such as the American Samoa Economic Development Credit and rum tax credits for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and other similar requests, to be taken up in subsequent legislation, but the offsetting tax rate reduction has a similar effect of encouraging investment and promoting jobs.
Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata voted on 15 bills in the Natural Resources Committee, as part of the Committee's final series of votes for 2017, including passage of the "National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System Act" with the Bordallo-Radewagen Amendment to study placing a Pacific warning system in American Samoa, Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands.
Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata was pleased to greet soldiers from American Samoa and spend time with them at Fort Lee, Virginia, along with touring Fort Lee and the U.S. Army Women's Museum, observing training in action and being briefed on Fort Lee's operations.
The soldiers are stationed at Fort Lee for their Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and will not be able to return home for the holidays.
Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata highlighted Natural Resources Committee efforts to lay a groundwork for updating the U.S. Department of Interior and its services for the 21st century.
Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's recommendation that President Trump consider expanding access to fishing in certain marine monuments, a major step forward in efforts to restore fishing rights in American Samoa.
Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed a federal grant of more than $200,000 for the American Samoa Department of Health.
"I appreciate this support for health care in American Samoa," said Aumua Amata. "Access to necessary health services can sometimes be a challenge in American Samoa, so federal support like this is helpful in the effort to prevent and treat communicable diseases."
Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed legislative efforts to combat harassment in Congress, improve training and protect employees, and applauded House passage on Wednesday of a bipartisan effort, H.R. 630, introduced by Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Virginia), which Congresswoman Amata cosponsored and the House passed with broad support.
Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed a $9,385 federal grant for the American Samoa Department of Health.
"I appreciate this health funding for American Samoa," said Aumua Amata. "Access to quality health services can be a major challenge in American Samoa, and federal support like this is part of the constant process of ensuring that care is available for maternal and child health services."