Washington, D.C. — the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) passed the bipartisan Pacific Partnership Act, H.R. 7159. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ed Case (D-HI), would bolster U.S. engagement with the Pacific Islands region, an issue which Congresswoman Amata highlights often.  She is also an original cosponsor.

Speaking in support of the bill in Committee, Congresswoman Amata emphasized that the U.S. is a Pacific Island nation by giving her statement first in Samoan before repeating it in English:

“O lo'u nuu o se tasi o atu motu o le Pasefika, ua telē le ono aafia i faiga mai fafo, ae maise o faiga a le malo o Saina.  Ua tele naua atina'e a Saina i totonu o motu o le Pasefika - o atina'e tetele ua fausia i totonu o Samoa Tutoatasi ua tau lata i lo'u nuu. 

“Ua tatau nei ona faia se gaoioiga! E ao ona tatou faailoa le gauai atu o Amerika i le Pasefika - e faamau ai se faatatau a Amerika mo Motu o le Pasefika ma faamau ai le Fuafuaga e aleaga faatasi ai Au mo le Vasa Pasefika, ina ia vaoia le feteenai i le ala atu o fesoasoani ae faamalosia le galulue faatasi.

“E momoli la’u faafetai i lau afioga i le Faipule Case mo lau faatautaiga i lenei mataupu faapea le mamalu o sui na latou lagolago lea faamoemoe mo le Pasefika.

“Faafetai ma faamanuia le Atua ia te outou.”

“My home is a Pacific Island, and we are increasingly under threat – especially from China.  China is increasingly investing in the Pacific Islands – building infrastructure projects just 70 miles from my home, in Independent Samoa.

“Now is the time to act! We have to show an American commitment to the Pacific -it codifies an American strategy for the Pacific Islands and codifies the Partners in the Blue Pacific Initiative to deconflict aid to the region and encourage cooperation.

“I want to thank Rep. Case for his leadership on this bill and for all the members who have showed their support for the Pacific Islands.

“Thank you and God bless.”