On January 4, 2025, President Biden signed into law H.R. 6062, sponsored by Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata. The new law streamlines the enactment of amendments that have been approved by the people of American Samoa.
Congresswoman Uifaatali said “It’s wonderful to have this bill signed into law, and move on to the last step for enacting our people’s amendments, which is working directly with the Secretary of the Interior,” She adds. “In Congress, every step of the way, the bill passed by unanimous consent, and the unity of our territory’s government was essential to getting that done together.”
The bill was approved by the U.S. Senate in December, in the last group of bills passed for the 118th Congress, after several months of work, as the House had already passed the bill.
The congresswoman said, “The self-determination bill fulfills the unanimous request of American Samoa’s elected leaders expressed by Fono resolution to remove unnecessary steps in Washington, D.C., reaffirming American Samoa’s right to self-determination. Under the law, the Interior Secretary can approve American Samoa’s constitutional amendments now and in the future without extra hurdles and delays that other territories do not have.”
