Washington, D.C. — Thursday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata sent a letter to President Biden identifying top congressional issues for American Samoa, alerting him to repatriation needs, and outlining numerous opportunities to work productively with his Administration in a bi-partisan manner in the coming weeks, months, and years.

 “We have been without commercial flights for 10 months and are just beginning the process of repatriating hundreds of our citizens that have been stranded across America trying to get home,” she says to the President. “Any additional assistance you can provide them as they quarantine in Hawaii en-route back to American Samoa would be greatly appreciated.

“Your inclusion of funds for the territorial governments along with the states relief components in your proposal is most welcome to aid us during the economic downturn brought on by the virus.”

Her letter highlights these key areas:

•                Continued Covid relief such as vaccines, repatriation and economic assistance;

•                her bipartisan bill to eliminate Medicaid caps for parity with the States;

•                requested increase for the needs of LBJ Tropical Medical Center;

•                multi year renewal of the American Samoa Economic Development Credit, and other support for the local economy and education;

•                climate and coral reef support for her bipartisan bill to reauthorize key Coral Reef Conservation programs.

She closes with appreciation that the President’s team has already reached out to her, and looks forward to working with his Department of Interior, his White House congressional insular affairs team, and other agencies.

Click on attachment below to download full text of the letter.