Red Cross lease for 55 years set for hearing today

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A hearing has been scheduled before the Senate at 8am on Thursday, pertaining to a concurrent resolution for the lease agreement between the American Samoa Government and the American Red Cross, American Samoa Chapter for a term of 55 years beginning on May 1 2022, and expiring on April 30, 2077.

Due to its urgency, given that the lease has expired, chairman of the Government Operations Committee, Senator Togiola Tulafono has scheduled the hearing for this morning, July 14, 2022.

He pointed out during the session on Wednesday that the normal 72 hours giving the Governor's office a heads up of a proposed hearing should be waived. 

According to the resolution, any lease of 10 or more years duration pertaining to government-controlled real property may be disapproved by the Legislature pursuant to section 37.2030 ASCA within 30 days after being submitted to the Legislature. 

In a letter to the President of the Senate on April 20, 2022, the parties to the aforementioned lease submitted to the fono a request for a lease term of 55 years to begin May 01, 2022, and expiring April 30, 2077.