Washington, D.C. — American Samoa is set to receive two grants totaling $561,010 in supplemental funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, passed by Congress earlier this year and signed into law in March.

These grants, each an identical $280,505, are for the American Samoa Department of Human and Social Services, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

SAMHSA notified Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata this week of one grant from the 2021 Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) program, and one from the 2021 Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) program.

“Congratulations to Director Muavaefa’atasi John E. Suisala, and everyone taking part in this effort,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Federal finds like these help our communities have necessary programs and services that would otherwise be unaffordable locally, especially in these important health areas of mental and substance abuse services.”

The MHBG program enables states and territories to provide comprehensive community mental health services, and address needs and gaps in existing treatment services for serious mental illness.

The SABG program helps states and territories plan, implement and evaluate activities to prevent, treat and help more people recover from substance use disorder, including investments in existing prevention, treatment and recovery infrastructure, support for providers, or unique local needs to deliver services.

SAMHSA, led by Acting Assistant Secretary for Mental Health Tom Coderre, is within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Xavier Becarra.

$472,000 CDC HEALTH GRANT

Cong. Uifa’atali Amata also received this week notice of a $472,791 grant from the CDC for public health emergency response .

This discretionary health services grant is for the American Samoa Department of Health through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Center for Preparedness and Response.

“Thank you to Emergency Preparedness Director Ben Sili for his work on this project,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Congratulations to Director Motusa Nua for these federal health services funds.”

The CDC is within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Xavier Becarra, and the CDC by Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.