President’s Request for OIA Totals $102.7 Million

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President Barack Obama is proposing a budget of $652.7 million for the Office of Insular Affairs which provides funding for basic operations, Capital Improvement Projects and technical assistance grants for American Samoa.

The funding request includes $102.7 million in annual appropriations and $550 million in permanent and indefinite appropriations mandated by law to the U.S. territories and the Freely Associated States.

A press release from OIA says noteworthy grants for the new fiscal year funding are:

  • $5 million to pursue sustainable energy strategies;
  • $2 million for natural resources protection including the Coral Reef Initiative and efforts to address invasive species;
  • $4 million in public school maintenance;
  • $4 million to provide support for community, landscape and infrastructure adaptation and resilience initiatives;
  • $17.1 million in technical assistance for insular area governments and
  • $22.8 million to support American Samoa Government operations.

Mandatory funding for Capital Improvement Projects is $27.7 million for all of the territories.

American Samoa receives about $10 million in CIP funding.

Secretary for Insular Areas, Esther Kia’aina said President Obama’s budget demonstrates his strong commitment to the U.S. territories and Freely Associated States.

“The proposed budget recognizes that our island communities are confronting energy security, infrastructure and ecosystem challenges, mainly due to a changing climate and sea level rise.

“The President’s support for community, landscape and infrastructure adaptation and resilience initiatives will ultimately be key to improving quality of life and creating economic opportunities.”

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