Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming U.S. commitment in the Pacific region signaled by Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech Tuesday to the Pacific Islands Forum. Speaking remotely, Vice President Harris addressed the annual leaders meeting of these nations, which assembled in Suva, Fiji, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited earlier in the year. President Biden spoke to the same group last year.

 “I’m increasingly optimistic that the U.S. is recognizing the need for thorough engagement in the Pacific, and I appreciate that Vice President Harris outlined further U.S. commitments in our region,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “This is a U.S. priority I’ve highlighted repeatedly in recent years, as the times call for more U.S. attention to Pacific alliances and strategic realities. As a co-chair of the House Pacific Islands Caucus, along with its founder Congressman Ed Case and others, I look forward to continued efforts in Congress to strengthen U.S. involvement in the Pacific.”

Vice President Harris acknowledged the United States has not always provided the necessary diplomatic involvement in the region, and offered a number of steps to boost future diplomacy, including a permanent Envoy to the Forum starting next year, embassies in Kiribati and Tonga, reestablishment of the Peace Corps efforts in the region, partnering in the Blue Pacific initiative, adding USAID efforts based in Fiji, and boosting the budget of Coast Guard operations in the region.

 “American Samoa is well situated to have a role in ongoing U.S. efforts, as the only U.S. territory in the South Pacific,” noted Congresswoman Amata. “Our excellent natural harbor would be an ideal base for U.S. Coast Guard vessels, and with investment and telehealth, a new state of the art medical center would boost health services to people throughout our region, and be a U.S. beacon in the southern hemisphere.”

MAJOR DEFENSE BILL PASSES

Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming passage of her amendment, included in the year’s largest Defense legislation, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Radewagen Amendment that she sponsored requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to include analysis of People’s Republic of China (PRC) influence in the Pacific Islands region as part of the DOD’s annual Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the Peoples Republic of China.

 “We need robust U.S. engagement in the Pacific that takes into account all the realities and activities of the region,” said Aumua Amata.

VETERANS’ HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE

The NDAA, passed 329-101, authorizes Pentagon operations across the board. This year, the House approved $839 billion, a $37 billion increase, encompassing all Defense-related spending from weapons systems to personnel to military construction.

Aumua Amata also supported and cosponsored several other key amendments of interest in the Pacific region, or to local Veterans. “These amendments, as related to U.S. involvement in the Pacific or Veterans services, helped make the NDAA a better bill,” said Amata.

In particular, the Sablan Amendment, led by Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (CNMI-At Large), requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States to provide advice and guidance to the VA on matters relating to veterans residing in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Among other duties, this advisory committee must advise the VA on how to improve its programs and services to better serve veterans living in the listed areas.

The Case Amendment, led by Rep. Ed Case (HI-01), requires DOD to brief Congress on the DOD role in the renegotiations of the Compacts with the Freely Associated States.

The Bera Amendment, led by Rep. Ami Bera (CA-07), directs the State Department and USAID, to provide an independent assessment of the resources they need to fulfill the Indo-Pacific Strategy.