WASHINGTON, D.C. (Office of the American Samoa Congressional Delegate) — U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata raised the issue of buying American tuna in a question to White House Council of Environmental Quality or CEQ Chairwoman Brenda Mallory, while voicing concerns about the Biden administration’s plan to expand Marine Monument fishing prohibitions.
“Council of Environmental Quality Chairwoman Brenda Mallory is charged with overseeing the Biden Administration’s expansion of the Pacific Remote Islands Monument, so I asked her point blank if she supports the ‘buy American’ program to ensure a domestic supply of tuna for our children and servicemen in the school lunch and military rations programs, but she deflected, and deferred to NOAA,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Let’s be clear, CEQ calls the shots from the White House as NOAA, and the Commerce and Interior departments report through CEQ in the White House, so it is clear that this Administration is waffling on the needs of the Pacific territories for continued fishing rights in the PRIMNM. This makes bad national security and food security policy for the United States and remains potentially devastating to our local economy.”
Amata also submitted for the record, and directed the CEQ chairwoman, to key comments made in opposition to expanded fishing prohibitions submitted from the 1,200 Starkist cannery workers; from American Samoa Gov. Lemanu Mauga and jointly with the CNMI and Guam governors; and from Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Director Kitty Simonds and former Assistant Interior Secretary for Insular Affairs Esther Kiaʻāina.
“Most of these opposition comments are from the President’s own team and are bipartisan in opposition, because it’s simply common sense — China is subsidizing their fishing fleet while the United States is cannibalizing its own fleet through fishing prohibitions, overregulation and abandonment of our own fishing rights,” Amata continued.
At every relevant hearing in Congress, Amata continues to raise the subject of the Biden Administration’s expansion of the Pacific Remote Islands Monument, and the local impacts on American Samoa’s fishing economy.
Video of her statement, question, and the CEQ Chairwoman’s response is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nfOaFFB-fo
Uifa’atali Amata
