Media

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is highlighting National Public Health Week, and thanking all those working to make health care and basic needs steadily available during this time of precautions.

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed an in-depth briefing provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Region 9 Director Robert Fenton on the agency’s action plan to assist in coronavirus efforts in American Samoa and other island territories, and she supports Governor Lolo’s request for the federal government to take on the entire financial responsibility and waive the Territory’s 25 percent matching requirement.

Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming another health grant for the second straight day — $745,000 for American Samoa Community Health Centers — this time from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and once again directly through the recent congressional appropriations in the CARES Act.

Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming a second health grant – this one $740,000 – to American Samoa from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically to support our COVID-19 response.

Combined with the CDC's previous $370,000 grant to American Samoa in late March this makes a total of $1.1 million to date directly for local coronavirus efforts.

Washington, D.C. – Monday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming U.S. Department of Labor publication of direction to states and territories for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), an important step in getting this unemployment relief on the way.

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is letting independent or private nonprofit schools, or church or faith-based schools in American Samoa know that Congress included them in the assistance options. These assistance options are part of a joint program, the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program, between the U.S. Treasury and directly administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). This assistance follows the same principles as the similar help offered to churches and small businesses, based on similar categories of payrolls.

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is providing the following summary of the recent coronavirus relief from Congress and what these bills mean for American Samoa.

How the COVID-19 Federal Relief Packages Affect U.S. Territories

The United States Congress has passed three aid packages in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is welcoming important clarification from President Trump that the $1,200 coronavirus relief checks from the CARES Act include seniors who receive Social Security and no longer work.