Press Releases
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Aumua Amata was privileged to meet late Monday with some of the Samoan and Polynesian community in Alaska, hosted by the Polynesian Association of Alaska, and discuss issues such as access to healthcare on the islands, immigration and visas, as well as the importance of maintaining a strong culture and communities.
Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, who serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee and its Health Subcommittee, welcomed the signing into law of the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017.
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Aumua Amata this week updated American Samoans at several town halls regarding the activities in Congress over the past few months, and took questions and discussed the issues that are most important to them.
"It was such a pleasure to be home this week and see familiar faces, and especially to talk to people about the issues they care about most," Aumua Amata said. "Our town halls were well attended and enjoyable, and so many are very interested in what is going on in Washington and how it affects them."
Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, is pleased to relay that a provision contained in the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which will temporarily increase federal coverage of CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) payments will go into effect beginning October 1, 2017. This increase will affect all five insular territories.
Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata was pleased to announce a $3 million revitalization grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Pago Pago International Airport.
"I welcome this continuing financial support for this important project," Aumua Amata said. "American Samoa depends heavily on airport access that can support long-distance travel, and revitalization efforts help ensure a great airport for the future."
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Aumua Amata today welcomed an FCC waiver, which she directly requested from former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and then Chairman Ajit Pai on behalf of the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA), giving ASTCA the licensing to continue efforts to complete projects that will make more services available to American Samoans.
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Aumua Amata, who serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee and its Health Subcommittee, today welcomed an invite to the White House announcement of action to make healthcare more readily available to the veterans of American Samoa.
Washington, D.C. –Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is pleased to announce that the Department of Interior's Office of Insular Affairs has awarded a grant in the amount of $2000 to the American Samoa Government.
"I am pleased that the DOI has recognized the need for this funding that is crucial to helping absorb the costs of migrants from the Freely Associated States," said Amata.
Washington, D.C. –Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata and the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Natives held an oversight hearing on the status of LBJ hospital. The purpose of the hearing was to examine possible avenues of improvement for both the hospital and the people of American Samoa's access to quality healthcare.
Washington, D.C. –Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is pleased to announce that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has changed the eligibility levels of Medicaid qualification in American Samoa from 200% of Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 400% FPL. The change will be effective on October 1, 2017.