Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming about $1.3  million ($1,293,165) for American Samoa's airports in new federal infrastructure grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, recently passed by Congress and signed into law November 15, 2021, by President Biden.

The local grants for fiscal year 2022 are part of a nationwide announcement Thursday by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

These new funds include $1,073,165 in two related allocations for Pago Pago International Airport; $110,000 for Fitiuta Airport, Ta’u; and $110,000 for Ofu Airport. The FAA Office of Airports regional offices will work with the airports and American Samoa Government to identify projects eligible for funding.

“American Samoa must always have reliable and highly maintained airports to provide the fastest, safest and most dependable access possible, whether to Honolulu or among our own islands,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Congratulations to Governor Lemanu Mauga, Lieutenant Governor Talauega Ale, Port Director Chris King, and the entire team operating our airports.”

"Thank you to FAA Administrator Steve Dickson and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg for considering American Samoa’s needs in these allocations,” she concluded.

Further yearly grants are likely through Fiscal Year 2026, due to the five-year program established by Congress in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These allocations are part of nearly $2.9 billion nationwide announced by the FAA to improve infrastructure at hundreds of airports throughout the nation.