Washington, D.C. — On January 4, 2025, President Biden signed into law H.R. 6062, sponsored by Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata.

“It’s wonderful to have this bill signed into law, and move on to the last step for enacting our people’s amendments, which is working directly with the Secretary of the Interior,” said Congresswoman Amata. “In Congress, every step of the way, the bill passed by unanimous consent, and the unity of our territory’s government was essential to getting that done together.”

The bill was passed by the U.S. Senate in December, in the last group of bills passed for the 118th Congress, after several months of work, as the House had already passed the bill.

The self-determination bill fulfills the unanimous request of American Samoa’s elected leaders expressed by Fono resolution to remove unnecessary steps in Washington, D.C., reaffirming American Samoa's right to self-determination. Under the law, the Interior Secretary can approve American Samoa’s constitutional amendments now and in the future without extra hurdles and delays that other territories do not have.