Washington, D.C. – American Samoa is set to receive it’s share of the  $1.9 million in EPA money earmarked  for the three Pacific territories, which will advance ASPA’s ability to establish, increase, expand and optimize collection and improve recycling infrastructure in the islands.

A project team will develop solid waste management plans, establish transfer stations to collect recyclables in the islands and at the Futiga Landfill, collect recycling data, and conduct public outreach and education.

The $753,755 for Am Samoa is the first round of funding from the new Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program. The funding is available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), officially named the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was passed by Congress and signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021, which Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata supported.

 “I appreciate this EPA investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve our territory’s collection and recycling abilities,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Thank you to the American Samoa Power Authority team involved in this effort to keep our islands clean and beautiful.”

The grants support the implementation of EPA’s national Recycling Strategy devoted to keeping materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible. The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program works with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.

The BIL provides $275 million total from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2026 for grants authorized under the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, a bipartisan Act passed in 2020 to be the largest investment in recycling in 30 years. The recycling grants are supplemented through EPA’s annual appropriations from Congress.

STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Am Samoa is set to receive $618,585 in federal funds for the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program under the leadership of the Criminal Justice Planning Agency (CJPA) Director Mariana Timu-Faiai.

The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program (STOP Formula Grant Program) was authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994, reauthorized by subsequent legislation, and most recently, funded by Congress through yearly appropriations.

“Thank you to Director Faiai and the Criminal Justice Planning Agency for working to qualify for and administer these STOP program funds to ensure justice and services are available,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Thank you also to the U.S. DOJ and OVW offices for this federal support to help improve protections against domestic violence.”

The STOP Formula Grant Program encourages partnerships between law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and victim services organizations to enhance victim safety and hold offenders accountable in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The goal of the grant program is to develop and strengthen law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services, including community based, culturally specific services, in these cases.