Washington, D.C. — “We enjoy every time we get to host our Close Up students in our congressional office,” Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata said, welcoming notice of yearly support benefiting American Samoa’s students in the Close Up program from the Interior Department’s Office of Insular Affairs (OIA).

OIA is providing a grant of $100,000 in Technical Assistance Program (TAP) funds to the Close Up Foundation for the youth summits in four territories, including American Samoa along with Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These funds supplement the larger program funds that were awarded in April 2024, which was a $1 million announcement funding activities for four territories and three Freely Associated States.

The announcement was made by DOI Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs, notifying Close Up Foundation President Mia Charity of the grant.

“It’s a delight that our students can take part in these experiences, and we enjoy every time we get to host our Close Up students in our congressional office. I know they have a great time and learn so much seeing the nation’s capital city and in the other opportunities each year through Close Up,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata.

“Thank you to our local organizers with our students and the nationwide leaders making sure these excellent educational events are available, and thank you as well to OIA for the federal support to make it possible.”