The visiting U.S. lawmakers with Marshall Islands President David Kabua and other officials of the Pacific island nation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Office of the American Samoa Congressional Delegate) — U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa took part last week in a bipartisan congressional delegation to the Republic of the Marshall Islands or RMI to underscore the importance of the historic relationship between the United States and the RMI, and emphasize the strategic strength of America’s military presence in the region.
Congresswoman Amata said, “I have wonderful memories from time in my youth in the Marshall Islands, and my father’s historic service there as a Pacific Islander in leadership in the post-World War II era. I hold these friends in the highest regard. Now, the United States is working with this important alliance to strengthen our commitment to the Pacific region once again for the next 20 years. As a member of Congress from American Samoa, with our high rate of enlistment in the U.S. armed forces, I recognize that RMI also has numerous U.S. veterans and military families in their population. I’m confident our special friendship with the Marshall Islands is being strongly affirmed, and we are focused on Congress’s role in preserving and advancing this vital relationship.”
U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman of Arkansas said, “The United States and our allies will never give in to foreign aggressors. This much was obvious during our visit to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which is home to many U.S. service members. Our military’s strategic position on the Island of Kwajalein cannot be understated, nor can our ability to defend our borders and allies from the People’s Republic of China. America’s safety and security will never be questioned or threatened by a regime that seeks to undermine the freedoms and democracy we cherish. This is why we will continue to foster and strengthen our special relationship with the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and I look forward to taking what we learned back to D.C.”
During their time in the RMI in Majuro, the U.S. lawmakers met with President of the RMI David Kabua and top RMI government officials to discuss the importance of U.S.-RMI relations. Members also spent time in the island of Kwajalein where they met with members of the U.S. military stationed there and received briefings on the strategic significance of U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein.
As committee chairman, Westerman has prioritized strengthening America’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region with the creation of the bipartisan Indo-Pacific Task Force, led by Task Force Chairwoman Amata and Co-Chairman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan of the CNMI. The committee and the task force are conducting oversight on issues facing the U.S. Pacific territories and Freely Associated States in the Indo-Pacific region. Westerman led this delegation of nine members of Congress to the region to see these issues firsthand and hear from local communities to further understand the threat of the People’s Republic of China under the Chinese Communist Party.
U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa speaks during a meeting with Marshall Islands officials.
The visiting U.S. lawmakers meet with Marshall Islands officials.
U.S. Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa with other members of the visiting congressional delegation.
