House version of “After-the-Fact $36 Million Bill” introduced in the Senate

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The House of Representatives Bill HB No. 38-29 which has been dubbed by many as the “After-the-Fact $36 Million Bill” was introduced in first reading in the Senate yesterday.

The bill which has passed third reading in the House, seeks to appropriate the sum of $36,000,000 of surplus revenues collected in Fiscal Year 2023 to supplement current operations and additional projects for the government, providing for an early effective date.

According to the bill’s Preamble, “on September 30, 2022, Public Law 37-12 was signed into law and appropriated, among other amounts, $116,876,500 in local revenue for the American Samoa Government for Fiscal Year 2023.

“On January 27, 2023, Public Law 38-1 was signed into law and appropriated $7,405,000 in unbudgeted, unobligated and unexpended revenues from Fiscal Year 2021 to supplement the American Samoa Government Budget for Fiscal Year 2023.

“The Department of Treasury has reported collections of more than $160,000 in local revenue during Fiscal Year 2023 and such revenues are available to fund projects additional operational needs of the government including, but not limited to, critical infrastructure needs.

Section 1 of the bill shows the following breakdown:

1. To the Governor’s Office for infrastructure projects in Tutuila and Aunu’u - $21.550 Mil

2. To the Governor’s Office for infrastructure projects in the Manu’a Islands - $10.450 Mil

3. To the American Samoa Medicaid State Agency for Medicaid Local Match - $2.5 Mil

4. To the Governor’s Office to address audit findings on use of COVID-19 funding-1.5 Mil

Also introduced in first reading yesterday, was the Senate Bill 38-36 appropriating $700,000 from unobligated and unexpended revenues from Fiscal Year 2022 to supplement the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget.

As Gov. Lemanu P.S. Mauga revealed on the opening of the ongoing Special Session, these funds will be used to fund American Samoa’s participation in the 2024 Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture and the 2024 Samoan Heritage Festival scheduled for June in Hawaii.

After the regular session, the Senate Select Investigative Committee (SSIC) convened a hearing where several government officials were subpoenaed to testify.

After the witnesses were sworn in however, the media representatives present in the Senate chamber were asked to leave.

SSIC Vice Chairman Senator Magalei Logovi’i who chaired the hearing had earlier informed Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean that Chairman Senator Togiola T.A. Tulafono would be arriving late as he had a case at the court and had asked him to begin the hearing in his absence.

Click on attachment below to download ASG Supplemental FY2023 breakdown of “After-the-Fact $36 Million Bill” in terms of projects and companies awarded, in dollar amounts.