If elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), US Rep. Keith Ellison promised a visit to American Samoa and other US territories, which he says should have access to needed resources.

Ellison made the revelation early this week, as former American Samoa Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin announced his endorsement of Ellison, who’s strategic plan for the Asian American and Pacific (AAPI) community includes the territories.

“They (AAPI community) have been on the frontline in the fight for human dignity and economic inclusion,” he said on the plans released on a website for his campaign to be the next DNC chair. He declared that the AAPI community “is a pillar of the Democratic Party.”

Election for the next chairman is set for later this month and the Democratic Party is seeking strong leadership following an upsetting 2016 general election, which saw overwhelming Republican control of the US Congress and a GOP President of the United States.

Of interest to Samoa News readers is that during last year’s primary election and the Republican caucuses to select a candidate for the US Presidential race, GOP representatives for at least three candidates visited American Samoa for support.

On Thursday, Faleomavaega issued a brief statement endorsing Ellison, who he describes as a “friend” and both of them served in the US House where Ellison fought “for working families.”

“I saw him join protests for working families, and I saw him organize for working families,” Faleomavaega said in a statement sent to Samoa News. “Keith cares about the issues that matter most to working families across the nation, including the Territories.”

“The fact is that Keith’s commitment to the U.S. territories is not just unwavering; it’s also unprecedented,” Faleomavaega said. “Keith knows that every person matters, and so he’s promised to visit American Samoa and other Territories to make sure that the Territories are fully incorporated in the State Partnership.”

“Simply put, Keith’s the type of leader these challenging times demand,” he said and urged American Samoa’s Democratic delegation to support Ellison’s candidacy.

Faleomavaega served in Congress for about three-decades until he was unseated in the 2014 general election by then challenger Aumua Amata, who went on retain her Delegate seat in last year’s election.

There’s been no reaction from local party leaders on whether they will follow Faleomavaega’s endorsement.

Among areas covered in Ellison’s strategic plan, is that he will visit American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Marianas Islands in 2017 “and ensure that the Territories participate fully in the State Partnership Program, and have access to needed resources.”

Additionally, he will work to ensure increased presence and/or participation by the DNC at key AAPI community and leadership gatherings around the country and territories. “The huge diversity within the AAPI community also necessitates conducting outreach through culturally specific networks, including religious institutions and language schools,” his platform says.