Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — While the House has approved, with two amendments, its version of the Administration’s temporary funding gap appropriation bill for the government, the Senate is holding another discussion on the measure tomorrow, with a government witness.

The bill provides consolidated appropriations and temporary funding to continue government operations until action on regular appropriations is completed. Further, the bill allows for continuing appropriations and prevents a “funding gap and corresponding government shutdown” for the fiscal year 2021.

While the Legislature and Executive branch face an impasse on the final FY 2021 budget bill, a small group of about 15 people gathered yesterday around 8 a.m in front of Utulei beach — across from the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium — calling for approval of the budget.

The group displayed colorful placards, urging the Fono to “Keep our Schools Open- Pass the Budget”, “My Family Depends on my ASG job- Pass the Budget” and “Save our Jobs- pass the budget”.

“FOR THOSE IN NEED, pass the budget", another placard states, while others exhort:“Fai Ma se Alofa”, and “Alofa I Tagata Faigaluega”. There was also one with “C’MON UNCLE” — it’s not clear who the uncle is.

The peaceful protesters, with their messages to both the executive and legislative branches of government, received support from passing motorists honking their horns, as the House convened around 9 a.m. yesterday where faipule passed in third and final reading, its version of the bill, with two amendments.

The legislation states in part that, appropriations and funds made available and authority granted pursuant to this Act shall be available until whichever of the following occurs first:

•     the enactment into law of the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal year 2021

•     expiration of a 30-day term following the effective date of this Act.

The House amended the bill to a “60-day term”.

The other amendment is made to the bill’s preamble, with the change saying that the Fono had considered “and passed” the FY 2021 budget, and the “budget bill was presented to the governor for his approval or disapproval.”

The preamble initially stated that the Fono didn’t pass the FY 2021 budget bill.

The House version was transmitted to the Senate yesterday, while the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee was holding another discussion on their version of the bill, which in the end, was then decided that a hearing will be held tomorrow, Friday, in which ASG Treasurer Ueligitone Tonumaipe’a is being called to testify.

One of the important issues that became contentious during yesterday’s committee discussion is the “funding source” for the 30-day term to operate the government until  final FY 2021 budget bill is approved by the Fono and signed by the governor.

The committee is seeking a testimony from Tonumaipe’a as to the funding source, and the total amount of money to be used for the 30-day term, because it's not clearly stated in the administration bill.

For the House version of the bill, it was introduced during the Senate session and assigned to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.