Washington, D.C. — Monday, Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata welcomed a grant of over $400,000 for American Samoa’s Head Start program through the U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS).

Specifically, the discretionary grant of $400,891 is directed to the American Samoa Department of Education, and designated for Head Start as emergency supplemental funding. These federal funds are distributed through the Administration for Children and Families.

“Thank you especially to the project manager for this effort, Milaneta Tinitali, and everyone involved in the Head Start program,” said Congresswoman Amata. “We appreciate all of our hardworking educators.”

“Head Start is an early education program to help give children momentum from the very start,” Amata continued. “Congratulations to Director of Education Talauega Dr. Samasoni Asaeli upon this funding.”

Funded by Congress and administered through HHS, Head Start is the national commitment to give every child an opportunity to succeed in school and in life. It is a comprehensive early education program for children birth to age 5, focused on early math and reading skills.