U.S. Congresswoman Aumua Amata, who has been briefed on Coast Guard operations from time to time, met Adm. Kevin Lunday in 2019 at Memorial Day ceremonies in Honolulu, where he was then commanding the 14th District USCG.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Office of the American Samoa Congressional Delegate) — U.S. Congresswoman Aumua Amata is highlighting President Trump’s Executive Order, regarding the placement and activities of United States Coast Guard vessels to protect U.S. maritime borders, and reiterated her suggestion that American Samoa’s Pago Pago Harbor is ideally suited to be a station for one or more Coast Guard cutters.
A Coast Guard public statement on January 21 by Adm. Kevin Lunday, the acting commandant, named American Samoa and all the territories among a list of key coastline protection areas, and stated the Coast Guard will “immediately surge assets…to increase Coast Guard presence and focus” in these areas in response to the presidential order.
“We need to continue to strengthen the Coast Guard’s capabilities including total cutters, and the ability to add deployment of cutters to the Pacific,” said Congresswoman Amata. “I continue to urge the strongest possible consideration of stationing fast cutters in American Samoa, one of the vast Pacific’s finest harbors. This would be a powerful statement of U.S. commitment in the South Pacific during a time of Chinese Communist Party regional efforts and influence, and the Pacific concerns of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing.”
“I encourage the Trump administration and Coast Guard leadership to work with [American Samoa] Governor Pulaalii Nikoloa Pula in facilitating a stationed presence operating from Pago Pago Harbor. I’ve met Acting Commandant Admiral Lunday, and I know he is exceedingly well versed in Pacific security from his prior command of the 14th District. Thank you to all our fine Coast Guardsmen and leadership serving in these important roles for our national maritime security.”
