PAGO PAGO (Pacnews) — The U.S. government is considering a further $300,000 to assist the disabled and low-income older people in American Samoa.
The increase will bring to $5.6 million the amount received by American Samoa through its food stamp program each year.
Cong. Faleomavaega Eni, D-American Samoa, said Congress is in its final stages of considering the bill.
“The bill (is also seeking) that our funding be indexed for inflation each year with the first increase taking effect on Oct. 1,” the congressman added. “For the first time in the history of our food stamp program, the bill also includes a provision to continue funding for American Samoa’s food stamp program through to the 2007 fiscal year.”
This means that for the next five years, American Samoa will receive more than $5.6 million per year in federal food stamp funding to provide for the needs of the blind, disabled and low-income elderly, Faleomavaega said.
“The Senate is expected to consider the bill in the near future and the secretary of agriculture has said he will recommend that President Bush will sign the legislation into law if it is presented to him,” Faleomavaega said.
