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U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs pays tribute to Faleomavaega

The U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs last Thursday paid tribute to outgoing Congress Faleomavaega Eni, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, according to a news release from Faleomavaega’s office.

 

The tribute to Faleomavaega came during the full committee’s unanimous passage of a measure introduced by the Congressman calling for a peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas.

 

The measure now goes to the full House for a vote.

 

At the committee vote, both Republicans and Democrats joined together to pay tribute to Faleomavaega for his outstanding service. Committee chairman Ed Royce and ranking member, Eliot Engel expressed their love for him, referring to Faleomavaega as a “Member’s Member”.  Faleomavaega, they said, called for the U.S. to strengthen relations with the Asia Pacific region long before others ever did. 

 

Republican Members, including former Foreign Affairs Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman Chris Smith of the Subcommittee on Africa, and Chairman Dana Rohrabacher of the Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia also openly expressed their appreciation and admiration for Faleomavaega, sharing personal anecdotes of their work together, and noting that he will be deeply missed.

 

Ros-Lehtinen also made reference to Faleomavaega’s photo with Elvis dating back to the time Faleomavaega was a student at LDS Church College in Hawaii (now known as BYU-Hawaii).

 

Democratic members, including Brad Sherman, Gerry Connolly and others joined in paying tribute to Faleomavaega for a job well done.

 

Despite time constraints, the entire Committee paused twice to applaud Faleomavaega for his 25 years of remarkable service on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, the news release says.

 

Faleomavaega is the longest-serving Samoan in the U.S. Congress and is the first Asian Pacific American in U.S. history to serve as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

 

Speaking during the committee mark-up, Faleomavaega said this measure would be the last resolution introduced by him, and it's his sincere hope that the full House will pass it before the 113th Congress ends.

 

Faleomavaega served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee since he first came to Congress in 1989.

 

“For as long as I have served, it has always been and continues to be my belief that the United States should pay more attention to the Asia Pacific region,” he said, according to a copy of his speech.

 

“We should pay particular attention to the ongoing tension in the South and East China Seas,” he said, adding that he believes in peace.

 

“...I thank you for the opportunity I have had to associate with each of you and with those who have served with us in the past,” he said and noted that it has been a distinct honor to serve with chairman Steve Chabot on the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. “I am going to miss him and each of you but I have every confidence that you will continue to be instruments for good.”

 

“Until we meet again, I extend to you my kindest and highest regards,” he concluded.

 

Faleomavaega was unseated in the Nov. 4th general election by Congresswoman-elect Aumua Amata, after he had served 13 consecutive terms as American Samoa's delegate.