The House and Senate reconvened Monday after a moth long break during which members attended the Retirement Fund Board meeting in California.
In the Senate a resolution for the confirmation of two members of the Board of directors of the American Samoa Power Authority, Jansen Poyer and Theodore Ted Leiato was introduced. The Senate ASPA Committee has scheduled a confirmation hearing for Leiato on Wednesday at 8:30 am. At the suggestion of Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, the confirmation hearing for Poyer who lives off island would be scheduled when he is on island later this month.
In the House, Representatives passed a concurrent resolution conveying the Fono and people of American Samoa’s condolences for the passing of a former representative and senator Uti Petelo Iuliano Sua.
Uti who passed away on January 11, in Washington State, served three consecutive terms as Representative for District #10.
He also occupied the Senate seat for Mauputasi District #6 after the passing of the late senator Faumuina Tagisialii, then selected for two terms as senator during the 37th and 38th legislatures.
His service in the American Samoa Government spanned 38 years, starting with the shipyard, then moving to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources and retiring in 2007 while employed as Senior Administrative Assistant with the Department of Commerce.
In other news from Monday’s House session, the Chairman off the Budget and Appropriations Committee Rep Vailoata Amituanai says the Fono had removed salaries of directors who have not been confirmed and also reduced salaries of deputy directors included in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. But he has learned that these directors are being paid. He said the executive should be questioned if it was following the budget law as approved by the Fono with regards to the salaries of directors and deputy directors. Vailoata also stated that according to information he has received the administration has drawn down money from the interest of ARPA funds. He believes that this funding should not be used without prior approval of the Fono. A hearing of the Budget and Appropriation Committee and relevant director including the Acting Treasurer and Budget Director has been scheduled for Thursday.
Rep Vailoata has also called for a hearing into the status of the emergency hires by the Department of Search and Rescue whose employment has been ended without any of them being paid. The hearing set for Wednesday will question the Directors of Search and Rescue, Human Resources and ARPA.
