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Aumua announces $83,000 healthcare grant for AS

Source: Media release, office of Congresswoman Aumua Amata

 

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support (CDC –OSTLTS) has issued $83,337 in discretionary funds to the American Samoa Department of Health (ASDOH) as part of the 2017 Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Program.

“I am pleased to relay this information to our local government and people. Being relatively small and geographically isolated from any major land mass, funding plays a crucial role in the improvement to our island’s healthcare system,” stated Amata. “There is still much to be done when it comes to healthcare improvement in our islands, but we remain optimistic that we can bring some real positive changes soon, and are of course thankful for every bit of funding we receive.”

According to the CDC, the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant provides the 50 states, D.C., and the U.S. territories with funding to address their unique public health needs in innovative and locally defined ways. This program gives grantees the flexibility to use funds to respond rapidly to emerging health issues and to fill funding gaps in programs that deal with leading causes of death and disability.

“I want to thank the CDC for recognizing the need for these funds, and would like to give a special thank you to all of our local officials including Project Director, Motusa Nua, for their leadership and hard work in obtaining this important funding for our islands,” concluded Amata.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS

The U.S. Dept. of Interior announced late last week a technical assistance grant for $139,500 to the All-Island Tax Administrators Association (AITAA) for its 2017 and 2018 conferences.  Consisting of the four U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands) and two of the three FAS (the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau), the AITAA gives territorial and FAS tax agencies a voice to address concerns or promote tax laws to the Departments of the Interior, the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service.  The 2017 conference will take place this June in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Other technical assistance grants announced are $865,800 for the Freely Associated states and CNMI to continue funding employee benefits under the terms of the Prior Service Trust Fund; and $697,387, for Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap and Utrik Atoll Health Care Programs.