Local News
Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata took part in the National Prayer Breakfast, her fifth time to participate. The annual bipartisan event has been held since 1953, when President Eisenhower became the first President to attend and bring widespread attention to the event,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a press release issued this week, DHSS Acting Director Muavaefa’atasi John E. Suisala announced that the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care (ACF OCC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, confirmed that American Samoa’s...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The first group of repatriated residents of American Samoa, who received their first COVID-19 test on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, have all tested negative, which was confirmed to Samoa News by the Department of Health Chief of Operation (COO) Vesi Talalelei Fautanu Jr,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The tobacco excise tax will increase by 3 cents — which will help fund LBJ Medical Center operations — if a Senate bill introduced yesterday is enacted into law. The bill also includes a separate provision, which seeks to reduce to 1% the current 2% wage tax, that is...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — With an ever increasing case load — both felony and misdemeanor cases — acting Public Defender Michael White plans to petition the governor to increase he number of attorneys with the Public Defender’s Office, which now has only two working attorneys, including White...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — No stone was left unturned during the House of Representatives confirmation hearing of Director of Port Administration, Christopher King Monday morning. The hearing was chaired by Chairman of the House Port Administration Committee, Rep. Tiaali’i Fau Sai.
Several House...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The House on Tuesday approved in final reading the Lemanu Administration’s fiscal year 2021 budget proposal, which totals $465.95 million — a 10% increase from the approved FY 2020 budget of $424.20 million.
The measure was introduced in the Senate yesterday and...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Senate Hospital/Public Health Committee chairman, Sen. Satele Galu Satele says he will wait for at few more days, at least a week, before requesting an update report from the government on the first repatriation flight so that senators would be informed.
The repatriation...
Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata released the following statement in honor of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick:
“Congress today honored the life of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. This week, he lay in honor in the U.S. Capitol. We are saddened by his loss, and...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The first repatriated group of American Samoa residents received their first COVID-19 test yesterday after arriving home this past Monday afternoon. This was confirmed by the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the Dept. of Heath (DoH) — former Manu’a #1 lawmaker, Vesi...

![Amata and other Representatives and Senators at the National Prayer Breakfast. “The Prayer Breakfast has a long and special tradition, and I think this year was another meaningful chapter to come together and desire the best for the nation and its leadership,” Amata said. [courtesy photo] Amata and other Representatives and Senators at the National Prayer Breakfast.](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/amata_at_prayer_breakfast.jpg?itok=XzfoldY1)
![DHSS Acting Director Muavafa’atasi commented, “We appreciate the Federal government’s continued support to address the needs of child care providers and families resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and we are also thankful for the continued assistance and support from our ACF OCC Region IX counterparts.” [SN file photo] DHSS Acting Director Muavafa’atasi](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/dhss_director_muavaefaatasi.jpeg?itok=Srjw22dL)
![85-year old Si’i Noaese Taeatafa, catching up on his morning Samoa News, yesterday morning. Mr. Taeatafa and his daughter Brigitte Moala (not pictured) of Malaeloa were among the 159 returning residents quarantined at Tradewinds. “Papa” as he’s come to be called by his quarantine-family, reminds our community to remember to wear your mask, sanitize and wash your hands and to practice safe distancing by staying 6ft apart. With their Negative results, the quarantined residents are anxious for the day they can finally reunite with their families in American Samoa. [courtesy photo] 85-year old Si’i Noaese Taeatafa reading Samoa News](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/quarantine_reading_sn_2117.jpg?itok=c19m3x_g)
![Sen. Utu Sila Poasa, chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, has scheduled a hearing next week Tuesday on the proposed bill. Senators are shown here during the swearing-in ceremony in Jan. [SN file photo] Senators are shown here during the swearing-in ceremony in Jan.](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/senate_swear-in_5386_1.jpg?itok=cr8sadBK)
![Acting Public Defender, Michael White posing for a Samoa News photo following his Senate confirmation hearing yesterday morning. Now awaiting House confirmation. [photo: FS] Acting Public Defender, Michael White](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/public_defender_mike_whitejpg.jpg?itok=QZcBxJul)
![Port Administration Director, Christopher King during his confirmation hearing before the House Port Administration Committee this week. [photo by AF] Port Administration Director, Christopher King](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/port_chris_king_0607.jpg?itok=3kNAfieS)
![Saelua informed lawmakers that $103.09 million was budgeted for local revenues to be collected in FY 2020 and unaudited figures show that ASG collect more than $108 million at the end of that fiscal year. [SN file photo] Budget and Planning Office director Catherine Saelua](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/budget_director_catherine_saelua_0381_0.jpg?itok=RXZX-2uv)
![Also during yesterday’s session, the governor’s nomination of ASG Treasurer Malemo L. Tausaga to the government’s American Samoa Economic Development Authority (ASEDA) board of directors was introduced. [SN file photo] ASG Treasurer Malemo L. Tausaga](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/treasurer_malemo-tausaga-e1554187171392-o5rmz2t95ew2x8gxgnu2xdljl5ljwb3bmmw83mkhgc_0.jpg?itok=RDisMMfr)
![The Capitol Police Force honor guard with Officer Brian Sicknick’s flag and remains during the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol honoring the officer who was killed during the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. [Photo courtesy House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s office] The Capitol Police Force honor guard with flag and ashes](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/ceremony_honoring_officer_sicknick_copy.png?itok=3uHKgD6d)
![A woman and a young child — who ARE among the 159 returning residents that arrived on island this past Monday afternoon were seen walking on the balcony of their hotel room on the second floor of the Tradewinds Hotel early yesterday morning. Part of the COVID-19- FOR SAFETY List includes spending time outside in the fresh air, opening windows and rotating fans to encourage fresh air flow — as well as mask wearing, washing hands, social distancing and staying within your ‘bubble’ of people. [photo by AF] A woman and a young child on a balcony at Tradewinds Hotel](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/need_fresh_air_0725.jpg?itok=Q9ATbQu6)