Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — There was overwhelming bipartisan House passage this past Thursday of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), sending the major Fiscal Year 2023 legislation to the U.S. Senate for final passage. 

Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata  told Samoa News that the NDAA raises military pay by 4.6 percent. Additionally, two bills that Amata cosponsored in this Congress are now included as sections of the larger NDAA. 

 “Thank you to every one of our nation’s Service Members, with special thoughts for our Toa o Samoa, and appreciation for all our military families,” said Aumua Amata. “Our military deserves a pay raise, and all the best support, training and equipment the nation can provide.”

ISLAND VETERANS TO ADVISE VA 

The first provision Amata supported completes a Veterans’ Advisory Committee on U.S. Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States. Under this provision, American Samoa veterans will be included on that committee advising the VA Secretary and Congress. 

 “Thank you to my friend Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan for his leadership on this advisory role for our local veterans,” continued Congresswoman Amata. “I was proud to cosponsor this plan to ensure the direct input of island veterans advising the VA Secretary.”

CORAL REEF PRESERVATION 

A second bipartisan bill that Amata originally cosponsored was also included. This reauthorizes the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, completing the first full reauthorization in nearly two decades.

 “This reauthorization better supports preservation efforts, including the availability of block grant programs and other funding,” Amata noted. “American Samoa is known for some of the most unique coral reefs in the world, vital to our beautiful shorelines and ecosystems.”

PENTAGON OPERATIONS 

The $857 billion NDAA authorizes the Pentagon’s yearly operations, record support for military personnel, and boosts military resources in the Indo-Pacific region.

Once signed into law, this will be the 62nd straight year Congress has completed the NDAA, a bipartisan achievement based on the constitutional necessity of providing for the common defense of the country.

The NDAA authorizes funding for U.S. Armed Forces, military construction and housing, weapons systems and modernization, equipment and training, and health care for the military.

TAIWAN FELLOWSHIP

Amata welcomes the NDAA’s inclusion of the Taiwan Fellowship Act to build upon the people-to-people ties between the United States and Taiwan. The Senate effort was led by Senator Markey, and Congresswoman Amata took part in his Congressional Delegation in 2022 that included a noteworthy visit to Taiwan. The bill’s provisions establish a fellowship exchange program for U.S. federal government employees to experience life in Taiwan and take part in work at Taiwan ministries, agencies, parliamentary offices or other organizations in Taiwan related to their home agency work in the United States.

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