Congresswoman Uia’afatali Amata confronted Interior Secretary Deb Haaland at a budget hearing on the administration’s still pending expansion of the Pacific Remote Island Monument. KHJ News Washington DC correspondent Matt Kaye reports…
Congresswoman Amata pointed out to Haaland that since last September’s NOAA workshop on the PRIMNM expansion proposal, American Samoa’s heard nothing. And she blamed President Biden’s 30 X 30 initiative for the potential crisis–
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Amata stressed that nearly 80-percent of the territory’s exports and port traffic “revolve around the cannery” and if the local tuna industry fails…
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Amata asked Haaland her plan to cover the possible economic loss in American Samoa if the Starkist cannery closes.
Secretary Haaland…
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Amata complained that with the Biden expansion of PRIMNM and the earlier doubling of its size by the Obama White House, 777,000 square miles of tuna fishing grounds will face fishing restrictions.
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Separately, Amata sought Haaland’s commitment that Interior and OIA would ensure federal dollars to the territories are used for intended social programs and the islands get needed technical help to ensure that.
Haaland–
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…referring to the recently enacted Compacts of Free Association…
Amata through Haaland thanked OIA Assistant Secretary Cantor and Deputy Assistant Secretary Nakoa for supporting her constitutional amendments bill HR. 6062.
On DOI’s budget request, Amata said she’ll ask for report language directing no less than $3 million from the operations account be allocated to the American Samoa Community College.
