Washington, D.C. — Uifa’atali Amata has returned to Washington, D.C., as the congressional session resumes this week with the biggest legislation of the year on the agenda for this month.

Congress must rapidly determine the best way forward for government-wide funding, with possible passage of major appropriations or a Continuing Resolution (CR) to temporarily fund federal programs while those bills are completed, plus disaster relief for the Maui wildfire and recent hurricanes in the U.S., support for Ukraine, along with completing and affirming Compacts of Free Association agreements with our closest Pacific allies later this year.

Hearings are getting underway in her three Committee assignments, including taking part in an upcoming oversight hearing applying to National Monuments and Marine Sanctuaries, which is an important issue for American Samoa.

“As you know, with a two-day overnight trip that only leaves on certain days, often I am torn between possible options here in American Samoa or in Congress,” said Congresswoman Amata. “I wanted to stay another week, but concluded I should be in D.C. as the Speaker gavels in and serious discussions get underway about all these issues.”

“… in American Samoa, we have our informational Service Academy Days for interested parents and students in their junior and senior years,” Amata said. “Chief of Staff Leafaina Tavai, who was American Samoa’s first ever Service Academy graduate, will be on hand with her experience at West Point and service in the U.S. Army.

“I look forward to reporting back on developments in Congress and being home again as soon as possible.”

Congresswoman Amata will be working to hold the Biden Administration accountable to enforce Buy American provisions in the school lunch and military rations programs so that American-sourced tuna from places like American Samoa are given the priority they deserve, and the security we need to protect our soldiers and school children.

“We cannot allow China to control a critical staple source of protein for our Armed Forces, our kids and country,” she said. “We need to preserve a stable American supply of tuna which American Samoa supplies and to that end I have been working with our cannery – on a bipartisan basis with my colleagues – so that the upcoming Farm bill includes enforcement protections for the Buy American provisions in our school lunch and military rations programs.”

She concluded, “Extending the American Samoan economic development credit is also a priority to support existing and future businesses. I have worked extensively with Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith with whom I recently traveled to South Korea and discussed the importance of our tax incentive inclusion in any upcoming tax legislation.”