WASHINGTON, D.C. (Office of the American Samoa Congressional Delegate) — Following the U.S. House election of the speaker on Saturday morning, U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa, at the request of House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman, represented the committee at the front end of a five-day whirlwind trip through Micronesia, which included stops in Saipan, Guam, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Majuro.
U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa at the CNMI inaugural ball on Saipan with Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. and CNMI Governor Arnold I. Palacios.
“I was humbled that at each stop I was personally greeted by the head of government, and have important perspectives to share with my colleagues in Washington,” said Amata. Coincidently, her meetings came at the same time in Los Angeles that representatives of republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands were signing memoranda of understanding with U.S. officials on extension of financial provisions of the Compact of Free Association.
U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa in a congratulatory moment with Speaker Kevin McCarthy and House Majority Leader Stephen Scalise. Also pictured are Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, and the members serving as whips for both sides of the aisle
“Although we had laid the groundwork for holding planeside consultations earlier, we had advised the governments involved that the protracted House speakership election forced us to advise them that it looked like there would be insufficient time to get to Saipan for the inauguration of Governor Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Governor David M. Apatang, which was to be the linchpin of the trip,” explained Amata.
U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa with Chuuk Gov. Alexander R. Narruhn.
When the speaker impasse broke in the wee hours of Saturday morning, the congresswoman discovered that if she were able to get to the airport for an 8:30 a.m. departure, she could get to Saipan at 2 a.m. Monday in time for a 10 a.m. inauguration. So, 36 hours after giving new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy a congratulatory hug, she set foot on Saipan. During her 30 hours on Saipan, Amata also had opportunities to meet with Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr., Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, and Speaker of the Guam Legislature Therese Terlaje. She then traveled to Guam, where she met with leaders of the Guam Chamber of Commerce.
U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa meets with Marshall Islands President David Kabua.
From Guam, she took United Airlines’ “island hopper” to Chuuk State, Pohnpei, the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia, and Majuro, the capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. By the time her plane landed in Honolulu, she had completed over the course of three days consultations with the presidents of three countries, three governors and met with a variety of foreign ministers, legislative leaders, and other officials.
At the first stop in the Federated States of Micronesia, she met with Chuuk State Governor Alexander R. Narruhn and Senate Vice President Wisney Nakayama, the son of the late first FSM President Tosiwo Nakayama of Chuuk. Next, on Pohnpei, she met with FSM President David Panuelo, Foreign Affairs Secretary Kandhi Elieisar, Compact negotiators Leo Falcam, Jr. and Asterio Takesy and other top national officials.
U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa with FSM President David Panuelo.
In Majuro, where her family lived for four years while her father was the district administrator, Amata met with President David Kabua, U.N. Ambassador Amatlain Kabua, Foreign Minister Kitlang Kabua, and other high government officials.
“This trip at the outset of a new Congress was an important opportunity to renew old friendships, meet new leaders, and update my understanding of the region’s most pressing problems. It is important for the island governments to reach agreements with the Biden administration,” she concluded, “but they still will need to work with Congress, which controls the funds.”
U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
