Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata is urging President Trump to reopen fishing access as a matter of national food security during the worldwide economic and health crisis.

“At this time of global re-evaluation of world health and economics I simply write to say that food security equals national security. Please use your Executive Order to immediately reopen the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) to commercial fishing,” Aumua Amata states in her urgent letter to the President.

“American Samoa is home to the largest tuna cannery in the country and the cannery needs restored access to the Monument to keep up with demand which has spiked over 30 percent in the past week alone for this key healthy, shelf stable and staple product for American consumers,” she continues.

“Now is the time to reopen American waters to ensure an American supply chain with American boats fishing American waters and having American manufacturing plants processing essential staple foods for the American people,” says Congresswoman Amata.

She supports her request with prior communications from herself and Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga, including one co-signed by House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Rob Bishop of Utah. The Congresswoman closes with appreciation to the President for ongoing bold action in the effort to protect our country, and his continued optimism.

Text of the Entire Letter follows:

March 19, 2020

President Donald J. Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, D.C. 20005

Dear Mr. President:

Thank you for your swift and decisive leadership as the world faces the current health crisis.

At this time of global re-evaluation of world health and economics I simply write to say that food security equals national security. Please use your Executive Order to immediately reopen the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) to commercial fishing.

I enclose the American Tunaboat Association letter and press release of March 10 and 17, 2020, respectively, in support of such urgently needed Presidential action to insure a safe American supply chain of canned tuna for the American consumer.

I reiterate the urgency of this matter which I shared personally with Vice President Pence during his recent briefing to Members of Congress on Capitol Hill last week about the Corona-Virus.

American Samoa is home to the largest tuna cannery in the Country and the cannery needs restored access to the Monument to keep up with demand which has spiked over 30% in the past week alone for this key healthy, shelf stable and staple product for American consumers.

Now is the time to reopen American waters to insure an American supply chain with American boats fishing American waters and having American manufacturing plants processing essential staple foods for the American people. 

I enclose additional letters in support including the most recent one of March 2020 from Governor of American Samoa Lolo M. Moliga; my previous letter in August 2019 from myself to Larry Kudlow, your National Economic Director;  and a letter I cosigned to you in March 2017 along with House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Rob Bishop all in support of your Administrations previous recommendations from the Department of Interior to reopen commercial fishing in all of the marine monument waters.

In addition, I ask for your Administration’s support in Congress making the 30A American Samoan Economic Development Tax Credit permanent which will further benefit the tuna industry and other local industries at this critical time.

Thank you again for your bold action to protect our Nation and for your continued optimism in our Country’s strength which I enthusiastically share.

God bless American Samoa and the United States of America.


Sincerely,

Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen

CC:

Honorable Lolo M. Moliga, Governor of American Samoa

Honorable Lemanu Peleti Mauga, Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa

Honorable David Bernhardt, Secretary of Interior

Honorable Douglas Domenech, Assistant Secretary, Office of Insular Affairs

The Honorable Larry Kudlow, Director, National Economic Council

Mr. William Gibbons-Fly, Executive Director, American Tunaboat Association