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Am Samoa in line to receive millions from infrastructure bill now under consideration in U.S. House

U.S. President Joe Biden
reporters@samoanews.com

Washington, D.C. — “The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make life better for thousands of American Samoa residents, create a generation of good-paying union jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win the 21st century,” declared the White House in the summary fact-sheet on American Samoa’s expected funding under the new federal law now being considered in the U.S. House after bi-partisan passage in the Senate.

The White House made the fact-sheets public on its website, for each state and territory under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which US President Joe Biden’s Administration says is the “largest long-term investment in our infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century.”

CLIMATE CHANGE

The White House points to a recent report from the Climate Program Office at US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which shows that American Samoa is facing heat waves, stronger tropical storms and cyclones, sea level rise, and challenges for coral reefs from climate change.

It says that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act makes communities safer and infrastructure more resilient to the impacts of climate change and cyber-attacks with an investment of over $50 billion.

Based on historical formula funding levels, the fact-sheet said American Samoa would expect to receive $2.5 million to protect against cyberattacks.

American Samoa will also benefit from the bill’s historic $3.5 billion national investment in weatherization which will reduce energy costs for families.

ROAD & BRIDGES

Through the Territorial Highway Program, the White House said, American Samoa would expect to receive nearly $24 million over five years to rebuild its roads and bridges. “American Samoa can also compete for $7.5 billion in funding over five years for major projects that will deliver substantial economic benefits to communities,” it says.

Additionally, the territory will also benefit from ‘improved healthy, sustainable transportation options for millions’ funds. Based on formula funding alone, American Samoa would expect to receive $7.5 million over five years to improve public transportation options across the island.

A footnote on the fact-sheet says that transit formula funding amounts are subject to changes resulting from the 2020 census or from annual transit service data reported to FTA’s National Transit Database.

HIGH-SPEED INTERNET

On reliable high-speed internet, American Samoa will receive a minimum allocation of $25 million to help provide broadband coverage across the territory. Additionally, low-income families in American Samoa will be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will provide a $30 per month broadband subsidy and $100 device subsidy for families with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level.

Other benefits for American Samoa under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:

•           will expect to receive more than $35 million over five years to improve water infrastructure in the region and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.

•           airports in American Samoa would receive approximately $6 million for infrastructure development over five years. The fact-sheet said that the precise allocations would change each year because the formulas use current passenger boarding and cargo data, and this estimate is based on 2019 data.