Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Three more cabinet members have completed the legislative confirmation process after they were approved by the House of Representatives this week.

Samana Semo Ve’ve’a received the green light from both chambers of the Fono to serve as Director of Homeland Security. This week, the House of Representatives voted 17-1 to confirm him. This follows a confirmation hearing for the director nominee before the House Homeland Security Committee held last week.

The Senate has already approved Samana so he’s cleared for the Lemanu Talauega cabinet. Samana is not new to the position. He was Director of Homeland Security during the second term of the Lolo Lemanu administration, but resigned last year.

The House confirmed Matautu Dr. Peter Tinitali to serve as Director of the Office for the Protection and Advocacy for the Disabled by a vote of 17-1.

The House also approved Michael White as Public Defender also by a vote of 17-1. Both have already been endorsed by the Senate.

The one remaining director who has been confirmed by the Senate but has yet to appear in the House is acting Director of Human Resources Lynn Pulou Alaimalo. Her confirmation hearing is now scheduled for Monday, Feb.22nd at 8:00am. (See separate story on reasons for the delay.)

The Senate has completed confirmation hearings for all except three members of the Lemanu Talauega cabinet, that require fono confirmation. The remaining director-nominees are: the Director of Youth and Women Affairs Salote Aoelua Fanene, Director of Human and Social Service Muavaefaatasi John Suisala and Commissioner of Public Safety Lefiti Atiulagi Pese.

The House received word from the Governor’s Office this week that Lefiti and Muavaefaatasi are among the 159 residents who returned home on the first repatriation flight.