January 6, 2015 - January 3, 2027
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Issue Position
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting broadband funds announced Monday from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) passed by Congress in 2021. These funds, specifically $37,564,827.53, are for the Broadband, Equity and Deployment (BEAD) program administered by the NTIA as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Congress was notified of these funds Monday, and the administration followed up with a nationwide program funding announcement.
The BIL is officially the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Amata supported this act throughout its consideration in Congress as it was known to include major increases to American Samoa including broadband, highway funding formula, and other priority, as secured in 2021 by the representatives of the territories working together. The BIL provides well over $100 million for American Samoa over five years in support for infrastructure: roads, bridges, ports, airports, safe drinking water, broadband, cybersecurity, and sewage systems.
“Quality infrastructure and technology investment strengthens a local economy,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Broadband can be especially important to provide the communications access necessary to being part of the worldwide economic, educational, and healthcare opportunities that are constantly advancing.”
BEAD program funding emphasizes support for expanding access in underserved communities, and the current announcement is part of the Internet For All initiative.
“Congratulations to our people, Governor Lemanu Mauga, ASG, and anyone who works with these funds, as they can make a difference for our territory,” she concluded. “Thank you to Secretary Gina Raimondo, the Department of Commerce, Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson and NTIA for this announcement.”
Source: radewagen.house.gov
Issue Position
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is congratulating ASCC for a new federal grant of $400,000 yearly for three years, totaling $1.2 million. These ANA grant funds are due to the application efforts of State Director Tafaimamao “Tafa” Lefu Tua Tupuola of ASCC’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
“Congratulations to our entire ASCC community, President Dr. Rosevonne Pato, and Director Tafaimamao Tua Tupuola, for acquiring these funds, and planning their good use for our students and disaster response,” said Congresswoman Amata. “This is an innovative project that earned a deserved grant award and benefits our college.”
This Social and Economic Development grant award is from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The grant purpose is to develop a career pathway multi-sector and interdisciplinary program designed to increase local capacity to respond immediately to disaster before the arrival of Federal partners.
“Our office looks forward to building the capacity of leaders in inclusive emergency management,” said Director Tafaimamao Tua Tupuola.Federal agencies supply each grant after the general programs that administer these funds are created legislatively by Congress, then funded through yearly appropriations.
"I appreciate American Samoa Community College and their important role and partnership in our Territory," concluded Congresswoman Amata.
Source: radewagen.house.gov
Issue Position
Washington, D.C. –Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting passage of H.R. 1, the Lower Costs Energy Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, sending this major bill to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.
“I represent the people of American Samoa, where fuel and shipping costs are causing higher prices for almost everything, and average wages to pay for it are a fraction of anywhere in the 50 states,” Aumua Amata said. “Transportation from an island in the South Pacific to anywhere in the world is extremely expensive. Infrastructure is an enormous challenge; we have infrastructure needs across the board from the hospital to sea walls. That construction requires costly shipping. We import all sorts of basic products, with exceptions such as the fresh fruits we raise on the island. Our cannery requires shipping for materials, then ships the tuna that millions of Americans depend on.
“As an island territory, even in times of prosperity, we always face additional economic and geographic challenges because we are so remote, and this is a constant part of my message in Washington,” Amata continued. “Now, we suddenly face double economic challenges – the Biden administration has announced drastic new restrictions that unfortunately threaten our fishing-based economy in the South Pacific through confiscation of our waters without consultation with us, even as the price of fuel puts pressure on all local commerce.
“This is major legislation with the goal of reducing fuel prices, and I was supportive of this effort in the Committee of the Whole, and in the Natural Resources Committee. We need to get the cost of shipping down, so we can hold the cost of local food and construction down, and make sure all the people of American Samoa, with our high rates of veterans and military families, can afford the necessities of life.”
Source: radewagen.house.gov
Issue Position
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming this week’s announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of waste management investment in American Samoa from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which Amata supported to improve local infrastructure and related services. The BIL, officially named the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was passed by Congress and signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021.
The highlight of this week’s announcement is $753,755 in an EPA grant for American Samoa, which is American Samoa’s share of over $1.9 million for the three Pacific territories, as part of a nationwide total of $73 million for this program. This is the first round of funding from the new grant program, Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program.
“I appreciate this EPA investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve our territory’s collection and recycling abilities,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Thank you to the American Samoa Power Authority team involved in this effort to keep our islands clean and beautiful.”
The EPA is hailing this funding which will advance the American Samoa Power Authority’s ability to establish, increase, expand and optimize collection and improve recycling infrastructure in the islands. A project team will develop solid waste management plans, establish transfer stations to collect recyclables in the islands and at the Futiga Landfill, collect recycling data, and conduct public outreach and education.
The grants support the implementation of EPA’s national Recycling Strategy devoted to keeping materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible. The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program works with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.
The BIL provides $275 million total from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2026 for grants authorized under the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, a bipartisan Act passed in 2020 to be the largest investment in recycling in 30 years. The recycling grants are supplemented through EPA’s annual appropriations from Congress.
Source: radewagen.house.gov
Issue Position
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming notice of $556,177 in federal funding for local mental health and substance abuse services. This is a new grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), by application of the American Samoa Department of Health (ASDOH) for their three-year crisis response to mental health and substance abuse needs, a project that is part of the nationwide 988 suicide and crisis lifeline effort.
Congress designated that new 988 dialing in 2020 during the 116th Congress (FY 2021 Appropriations) to be a major update of the former National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, then funded new and ongoing 988 lifeline projects through each year’s appropriations since, as well as boosting support through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022.
“Thank you especially to Fiso Talalupelele for ensuring that American Samoa applied and qualified for this grant for these services,” said Congresswoman Amata. “It is important that a friendly, knowledgeable voice is immediately available so that response and support can be rapidly sent for anyone going through a mental health crisis.”
The states and territories work with the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in administering 988 projects. ASDOH is led by Director Motusa Nua reporting to Governor Lemanu Mauga and Lieutenant Governor Talauega Ale. Nationally, HHS is led by Secretary Xavier Becerra, with SAMHSA under Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Miriam Delphin-Rittmon.
Source: radewagen.house.gov
Issue Position
“The Aunu’u Wharf is a major need since it’s the only access to and from Aunu’u for transportation and supplies,” said Aumua Amata. “I’ve seen firsthand how the sea has battered our aging wharf in Aunu’u, so I’m delighted to pass along this wonderful news. Thank you to everyone who has a part in this important project from paperwork to construction. Congratulations to Port Director Chris King as he leads this much-needed effort for the people of Aunu’u.”
This discretionary grant, under 2022 appropriations by Congress, is a U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) FY22 Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) award of $2,120,000, designated to the ASG Department of Port Administration, led by Director Christopher J. King, under the administration of Gov. Lemanu P.S. Mauga and Lt. Gov. Talauega E.V. Ale.
The project will reconstruct the Aunu’u Wharf, the sole access point in and out of Aunu’u Island in American Samoa. This includes reconstruction of the existing wharf; structural repairs to the existing pilings; construction of a new 80-foot-long extension to the wharf; repairing and upgrading the ramp structure; dredging excess material surrounding the wharf; and installing a new fendering system, bollards (sturdy posts), and cleats for docking and anchoring.
MARAD, led by Administrator Rear Admiral Ann Phillips, US Navy (Ret.), is an agency of the DOT, led by Secretary Pete Buttigieg. MARAD is responsible for America's waterborne transportation system, especially supporting the technical aspects of America's maritime transportation infrastructure, along with support for future and current mariners.
Source: radewagen.house.gov
Issue Position
Washington, D.C. – In a Wednesday oversight hearing, Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata raised the issue of prioritizing Buy American laws in U.S. government purchases, including tuna, and took part in a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough urging more effort to follow Buy American laws.
“This is an issue which is very important to my district,” said Congresswoman Amata. “The administration’s overuse of exemptions harms local economies like American Samoa’s fishing and canning industry. We are in direct competition with foreign processers who underpay their workers and have lower standards for illegal and unreported fishing. This not only harms our economy and the environment, but a lack of support for American industry and self-sufficiency opens us up to national security concerns. Unscrupulous actors such as China, who do not have the same commitment to quality and safety as the U.S., will capitalize on every bit of business we cede to other countries, be that directly or indirectly. Our agenda today focuses on VA procurement, but the importance of upholding the Buy American Act across the board cannot be overstated.”
Amata, along with a number of House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs colleagues, took part in a letter to Secretary McDonough following concerns that the Biden administration is falling short in its duty to support domestic producers and serve America’s veterans with American-made goods.
The letter states: “The information posted on madeinamerica.gov about VA non-availability procurement waivers is typically vague and includes minimal descriptions of what market research was performed or how VA staff searched for domestic alternatives. VA has posted just two approvedBuild America, Buy America Act waivers on its public website since May 2022. This is a remarkably low number given that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), or IIJA, was signed into law almost two years ago, and the website indicates it has not been updated for nearly six months…We think you would agree that VA should be caring for the men and women who have served with products made with the American ingenuity they fought to defend.”
Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations Chairwoman Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), a U.S. Navy veteran, led Wednesday’s oversight hearing titled, “VA Procurement: Made in America.” During this hearing, the subcommittee examined VA’s compliance with domestic preference statutes including, but not limited to, the Buy American Act and the Build America, Buy America Act, as well as relevant regulations, policies, and Executive Orders.
Full text of the letter the Members sent to the VA Secretary:
Dear Secretary McDonough:
The Buy American Act and other domestic purchasing laws have existed for decades, but an increasing number of loopholes, carveouts, and exceptions have rendered them practically toothless. More recently, a liberal attitude toward granting waivers from these laws has undermined the federal government’s purchasing from U.S. manufacturers. We are concerned that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is falling short in its duty to support domestic producers.
On January 25, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order (EO) 14005: “Executive Order on Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers,” building on EO 13881, “Maximizing Use of American-Made Goods, Products, and Materials” issued by President Trump on July 17, 2019. The president directed VA, and all other federal agencies, to use the terms and conditions of contracts and financial assistance to maximize the use of goods and services produced and performed in the United States. The Executive Order also established the Made in America Office (MIAO) as the central reviewing body for all agency waivers to “Made in America” laws. MIAO’s objectives are to boost transparency and reduce the number of waivers to increase domestic purchasing. It is unclear whether MIAO is achieving these goals or driving any meaningful increase in federal agencies’ purchasing from domestic producers.
Following EO 14005, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued memorandum M-21-26 which identified key information that agencies are required to report in order to justify their non-availability procurement waivers. MIAO has been directed to post that information to a publicly available website, madeinamerica.gov, in order to promote accountability and public trust in the waiver process. VA maintains a similar waiver website. However, MIAO, VA, and other agencies seem to have taken a narrow view of what information is required.
The information posted on madeinamerica.gov about VA non-availability procurement waivers is typically vague and includes minimal descriptions of what market research was performed or how VA staff searched for domestic alternatives. It does not seem to provide any evidence of supplier scouting with supply chain experts such as local chambers of commerce, industry and trade associations, or the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. What the public and Congress see is a watered-down version of the waiver that includes almost none of the information that OMB requires agencies to report. While MIAO is permitted to withhold information consistent with protecting national security and executive branch confidentiality, it is hard to see how that is relevant to the VA procurements listed.
Additionally, VA has posted just two approved Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) waivers on its public website since May 2022, pertaining to the state home construction grant program and the state cemetery grant program, generally. This is a remarkably low number given that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), or IIJA, was signed into law almost two years ago, and the website indicates it has not been updated for nearly six months. We question whether the information VA has provided is accurate and complete. We believe the measures required by OMB would support transparency and increased participation by domestic suppliers, but the fact that they are not being carried out makes the whole exercise self-defeating. We think you would agree that VA should be caring for the men and women who have served with products made with the American ingenuity they fought to defend.
Furthermore, VA has not provided this Committee with any evidence that the Department has reduced its number of waivers and meaningfully increased domestic purchasing since the issuance of EO 14005 and the passage of the IIJA. In fact, judging by the information published on madeinamerica.gov, waiver requests to buy foreign-made goods instead are being approved quickly—rubber stamped at a rate of nearly 100 percent, at many agencies, including VA.
Pursuant to the Committee’s ongoing oversight of VA’s compliance with “Made in America” laws, I request the following information by October 13, 2023. When producing documents, do not alter them in any way, including but not limited to application of redactions or a watermark. Additionally, digital copies should be provided in a format that enables their printing and copying by the Committee.
1) Any documentation or evidence that VA has increased domestic sourcing in procurement contracts and financial assistance since the issuance of EO 14005;
2) Complete copies of any and all requested or granted VA waivers not posted on madeinamerica.gov or the VA BABAA website as well as any supporting information related to waivers posted on such websites;
3) Copies of VA’s financial assistance policies and procedures regarding BABAA requirements; standard domestic sourcing language VA is using in notices of funding opportunities and grant terms and conditions; and an update on VA’s efforts to implement an agency-level BABAA grant waiver process; and
4) A staff-level briefing on the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction’s efforts to better implement “Made in America” laws throughout VA.
Source: radewagen.house.gov
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