Senate approves establishment of new Government Operations Investigative Committee
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Senate has approved a resolution establishing a new investigative body tasked with examining the operations of government agencies and ensuring public offic

![Senator Togiola T.A. Tulafono, chairman of the newly established Senate Government Operations Investigative Committee, which has been tasked with conducting oversight investigations into government operations, public spending, and agency compliance with territorial laws and regulations. [photo: Asi A. Fa'asau] Senator Togiola T.A. Tulafono](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/togiola_new_2026.jpg?itok=crMaYePl)

![Twelve (12) of the 13 ASCC students who will receive the National Science Foundation S-STEM scholarship this semester. The scholarship is intended to assist students in the American Pacific territories as they compete in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields. Application was open to students majoring in any Science field at ASCC, and successful applicants included majors in Marine Science, Natural Resources and General Agriculture. [Courtesy Photo] National Science Foundation S-STEM SCHOLARS](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/ascc_s-stem_scholarships.jpeg?itok=qEviP2O6)
![Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean and Mrs. Fiapa'ipa'i Fruean took part in the opening worship service during last Friday's official dedication and opening of lawmakers' new offices at the new Fono building in Fagatogo. The office furnishings were supplied by Hawaii-based furniture and workplace solutions company SystemCenter. [photos: Asi A. Fa'asau] uaolo Manaia Fruean and Mrs. Fiapa'ipa'i Fruean](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/10005.jpg?itok=cjS9sVie)
![(l-r) Homeland Security Deputy Director Esau Esau, Homeland Security Director Vaetagaloa Glenn Lefiti, Acting Public Safety Commissioner Tautalaso'o Moliga, and Deputy Commissioner Falana'i Ta'ase Sagapolutele testify before a Senate committee hearing on drug trafficking and law enforcement coordination in the Territory last Thursday. Apparently DHS has taken over as lead in drug interdiction efforts in the territory [photo: Asi A. Fa'asau] Homeland Security officials](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/10000_jpg.jpg?itok=1D9t1eTE)



![Wave buoys like these are essential instruments in ocean observing and there are over 600 assets, including buoys, reporting wave data throughout IOOS. Wave information is important for weather forecasting, safe navigation, port operations, coastal planning, coastal hazard prediction and mitigation, and many more applications. [courtesy photo] WACE BUOY](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/wave_buoys.jpg?itok=Q1V2oDyh)