Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on the need for additional support for American Samoa's Medicaid program and modernization of LBJ Tropical Medical Center. Amata is an original cosponsor of the Insular Areas Medicaid Parity Act, over which the Committee has jurisdiction. The bipartisan bill would provide stable permanent funding, lift the caps, and maintain an increased FMAP for the territories.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata took part in a March 11 hearing of the Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife (WOW). This was the Subcommittee's first hearing of 2021, following Committee organization last month, but it will take up topics over the rest of the 117th Congress that include issues that affect American Samoa, such as fisheries and marine life, coral reef and shoreline policies, drinking water resources and other important matters.

Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata congratulates Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland upon confirmation by the U.S. Senate, and welcomes her to this key leadership role, which is important to American Samoa.

Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata welcomed official notice of four U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants for American Samoa's airports through appropriations by Congress in last year's COVID relief that combine for $1,050,816.

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is happy to announce that Victor Chen has been accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy, his first choice of the nation's prestigious Service Academies.

"I'm very pleased to announce a fully qualified appointment for Victor Chen to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado," said Aumua Amata. "Congratulations to Victor, and to his proud parents, Michelle and Manua Chen."

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata said that American Samoa can now expect a second straight year of record federal funding in 2021 — up to an approximate $511 million in special funding and a new education investment of up to $150 million in American Samoa — as part of the $1.9 trillion relief package passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and sent to President Biden to be signed into law.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata spoke in the House Natural Resources Committee on Thursday in support of resources, such as funding sea walls and other shoreline stability needs dealing with erosion, sea rise, climate and Tutuila's known settling.

Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata welcomed a telehealth grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance local maternal health services. This federal funding relies in part on appropriations from Congress in 2020 COVID relief legislation.