Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata welcomes Wednesday’s joint announcement of the new Congressional Territories & Commonwealths Caucus, which starts with the five Representatives from the territories.
The founding members are Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen (American Samoa), Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (USVI), Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds (CNMI), with Congressman James Moylan (Guam) and Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández (Puerto Rico) serving as the Co-Chairs for the 119th Congress.
This bipartisan caucus is now officially registered as a Congressional Member Organization. It will focus on strengthening federal policies, improving program access, and elevating the visibility of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Congresswoman Amata serves on several issues or region-based caucuses, including as a Co-Chairman of the Pacific Islands Caucus and as a Vice Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus.
Congresswoman Amata emphasized strengthening long-standing cooperation among the islands: “Many of our best successes have come from working together in unity on shared priorities, and that cooperation is strengthened even further when our colleagues step forward as friends of the territories. This Caucus is another excellent avenue to draw needed attention to our efforts and help our colleagues understand how they can support the islands. I’m enthusiastic about the possibilities, and I appreciate our founding members and all who join us.”
The Congressional Territories & Commonwealths Caucus will work to strengthen coordination on legislation affecting the territories, expand access to federal programs, improve economic, healthcare, and infrastructure opportunities, and ensure that every U.S. territory and commonwealth has a clear and informed voice in federal policymaking.
