Media

Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata announced she will be Vice Ranking Member for the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs (HVAC), and will serve once again on two key Veterans subcommittees for the 117th Congress — the Health Subcommittee and the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.

Washington, D.C. – Saturday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata welcomed over $3.4 million in federal funding for the COVID-19 vaccine effort through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Specifically, this award provides $3,438,384.66 in federal funding to the American Samoa Department of Health (and sub-recipients) for Emergency Protective Measures as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Congress authorized such funding under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act, which directs response efforts such as this.

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata highlighted the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 14 mission, in February of 1971, one of several Apollo missions in which the astronauts splashed down near American Samoa and were first welcomed back on land in American Samoa. In commemoration, Congresswoman Amata is placing a permanent Statement in the Congressional Record.

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata welcomed the announcement by the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) of transmitting over $16.7 million in funds from the U.S. Department of Interior to the American Samoa Government for Operations. Congress appropriates these annual funds, and at Amata's request each of the past four years, Congress has both added to the ASG Operations budget and restored millions in proposed cuts yearly. Amata-requested direct increases over four years include $250,000, $718,000, $400,000, and $500,000.

Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata welcomed the swearing in of the 11th United States Secretary of Veterans' Affairs (VA) Denis McDonough, and highlighted the importance of VA issues to Veterans.

Washington, D.C. – Saturday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata had the opportunity to congratulate a longtime friend, former colleague and Veteran, Col. (Ret.) Lillian "Anita" Dixon, as the new Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA). She will serve in the same role for the Washington, D.C. region as Lotoaoalii Joseph Toloa'i Ho Ching II does for the Pacific region that includes American Samoa. He was appointed CASA in 2020.

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata took part in the National Prayer Breakfast, her fifth time to participate. The annual bipartisan event has been held since 1953, when President Eisenhower became the first President to attend and bring widespread attention to the event, which has grown to attract 3,000 people in recent years. President Biden spoke this year, and four Members of Congress hosted, one from each party in both the Senate and House: Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY).

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata released the following statement in honor of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick: