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Press Releases

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Congresswoman Amata talks with Close Up students during lunch in former office - file photo
January 9, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting notice of support for the Close Up program benefiting American Samoa’s students from the Interior Department’s Office of Insular Affairs (OIA).

This OIA grant of $1.1 million in Technical Assistance Program (TAP) funds to the Close Up Foundation funds the 2025 Insular Areas Program, which includes American Samoa along with Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Issues:Education

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WH bills signed
January 8, 2025

Washington, D.C. – On January 4, 2025, President Biden signed into law H.R. 6062, sponsored by Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata. 

“It’s wonderful to have this bill signed into law, and move on to the last step for enacting our people’s amendments, which is working directly with the Secretary of the Interior,” said Congresswoman Amata. “In Congress, every step of the way, the bill passed by unanimous consent, and the unity of our territory’s government was essential to getting that done together.”

Issues:Congress

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Swearing in family photo
January 3, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata was officially sworn in on Friday to serve the people of American Samoa for a sixth term in Congress. The new 119th Congress convened on January 3rd, which is the constitutional start date every two years.

Issues:Congress

December 30, 2024

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata released the following message for New Year’s Day. 

Issues:Culture

December 29, 2024

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is honoring the distinguished life of President Jimmy Carter:

Issues:Congress

December 23, 2024

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming final Senate passage on Friday of a bipartisan House bill she co-introduced, the FISHES Act, H.R. 5103. The legislation has been sent to President Biden to become law. 

Amata is one of a bipartisan group of 11 original cosponsors at introduction, primarily from coastal districts, led by sponsor Congressman Byron Donalds of Florida, and including Congressman James Moylan of Guam. 

Issues:Congress

December 23, 2024

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming final passage of the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, H.R. 82, which she cosponsored. The bill originated in the House and has now been sent to President Biden to be signed into law, among a flurry of completed bills as the 118th Congress closes. 

Issues:Congress

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capitol
December 23, 2024

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata welcomes the bipartisan passage of government funding through mid-March, including disaster relief for hurricane flooded areas of the U.S., and an extension of Farm Bill policies with added agricultural support. The 119th Congress beginning in January will take up the needed appropriations bills for the rest of the year. 

Issues:Congress

December 19, 2024

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming final passage of her bill for American Samoa, H.R. 6062, which will now be sent to President Biden to be signed into law. The bill streamlines the enactment of amendments that have been approved by the people of American Samoa. Congresswoman Amata is congratulating Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga, as this was a priority for his administration, and sending special thanks to Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i), who offered the bill up and spoke on the Senate floor for it.

Issues:Congress

December 19, 2024

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming the announcement of $2.1 million for American Samoa’s broadband and digital accessibility from the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), as part of over $60 million nationally for Digital Equity Plans.