The Senate has also approved in final reading the Governor’s supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2024 of $700,000.
The money will be used to fund American Samoa’s participation in the Pacific Festival of Arts to be held in Honolulu in June and the 2024 Samoan Heritage Week.
The House of Representatives also met on Saturday.
During second reading of the $700,000 supplemental budget, Representative Malaeoletalu Melesio Gurr made a motion to hold a hearing on the bill as he wanted to see a breakdown of how the funds would be spent.
However,his motion was not seconded and the bill was passed in second reading.
Malaeoletalu told KHJ News he supports giving money for the Pacific Arts Festival, but not money for the Samoan Heritage Week when there are many other pressing needs. He mentioned as examples, guard rails, Medicaid match, and district projects.
The House will take a final vote on the $700,000 appropriations bill on Monday.
