Congresswoman Aumua Amata has responded to the request from Tagata Tutu Faatasi Alliance of American Samoa to use some of the $80 million in unspent Medicaid funds to help local residents who are stranded off island meet costs of living away from home while flights are suspended.
The $80 million referred to is the Medicaid funding approved by Congress last year which the Medicaid Director has said hasn’t been used because there’s no local match.
In her response of September 30 the congresswoman said, she endeavors to help every constituent to the best of her ability and “helped secure substantial CARES Act recovery funds for American Samoa from Congress, increased the ASG operations annual budget and expanded our Medicaid coverage.”
But she told the group control and dispersal of these federal funds are the “Governor’s upon receipt.”
The congresswoman said, “The control over our border and immigration rest in the control of or Governor and our Legislature and the timing of repatriation flights will be upon the Governor’s determination of the safety of all parties.”
She offered congratulations to Governor Lolo’s team on a successful repatriation flight test run this past week and to the “first responders and healthcare workers charged with this heavy responsibility. It is important progress.”
Aumua went to say, “In order to assist any individual, there are strict federal laws about privacy, so I cannot share the information on one constituent with another person. Each person must have a privacy release form properly executed as well and may contact my office to fill out the form to open an individual case.”
She added that each individual case is important and unique and each with their own set of specific circumstances and facts.
“The Governor however will determine when it is safe to repatriate,” she emphasized.
“I can inform you that I recently testified before the US Senate and have updated them on the current state of affairs. I have asked them to increase our current budget due to the COVID-19 crisis and the Senate Appropriations Committee will review and determine the request in the coming weeks. My colleagues in the House of Representatives already agreed to an increase of $500,000 to the ASG operations budget administered through the Department of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs and we have received over $100 million in additional emergency funds this year.”
Aumua concluded, “Again, the Governor has control of these funds as well as any increase once passed by Congress or any request to reprogram any funds, but I will keep working with him, our Fono leadership, and all of you and keep you informed as to the progress and pray for everyone’s swift and safe return to their homes and families.”
