Uifa’atali Amata Radewagen will seek a 5th term as territory’s delegate

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata confirmed last Friday that she is seeking re-election for a 5th consecutive two-year term as American Samoa’s Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives during the Mid-Term 2022 election.

In responses to Samoa News inquires, Uifa’atali confirmed her plans for reelection, saying that “I have discussed this with my family and with village leaders and have been encouraged to seek reelection.”

The Congresswoman also confirmed that she had already picked up the election petition from the Election Office and have already filed it. “I am told I have sufficient signatures to be placed on the ballot,” she noted.

Local election law requires candidates for Congress to file a petition, “signed by at least 300 registered voters of the Territory”. And the Election Office data, as requested by Samoa News last week, shows that Uifa’atali filed her election petition early last month.

“Our people always have made it clear how important it is for our Member of Congress to have prior experience in Washington,” she said in response to a question as to why she is seeking re-election.

And this “was true” of former Congressman Fofo I.F. Sunia and the late former Congressman, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, “before me and I, too, had experience in both the executive branch and on congressional staff,” she points out.

“As such I was fortunate to be given leadership positions in my first term,” she said and noted that there “will be a major turnover in Congress this fall and I will be in a position to have a senior leadership role, which will allow me to even better advocate for the needs of our people.”

Among the Samoa News email questions to the Congresswoman was: “what are some of the pertinent issues for American Samoa that you believe remain unresolved at this point, that you want to pursue in the next two years in Congress, if re-elected?”. Samoa News notes that this is a similar question that comes up every election year for an incumbent and has already started circulating in the community.

In response, Uifa’atali said - “There is no question that securing resources for a new hospital will be my top priority. With China making inroads into the region, Washington is paying much more attention and I am working to convince the Interior, Defense and Veterans departments that construction of a regional medical facility that can serve our neighbors as well is in the interest of our national security.”

“High speed internet will make telemedicine a reality and will serve our local economy as well. I also will continue to push [for] the stationing of a U.S Coast Guard cutter fleet in Pago Pago harbor,” she said.

Regarding important new issues for American Samoa that she wants to address in the next two years, if re-elected, Uifa’atali first pointed out that Congress just passed a new law that includes billions of dollars to fight climate change.

“Nowhere in our country is affected more than our islands and I will be fighting to ensure that our fair share of resources comes here,” she declared. “I built up many friendships in Washington and intend to work with them on efforts to diversify our economy by strengthening and enhancing small business opportunities.”

American Samoa voters and Samoa News sources who are long-time political observers and have monitored elections over the years, have long argued that it’s very difficult to unseat an incumbent in office for Congress.

Asked if she believes in this assessment, Uifa’atali responded, “It is true that 90 percent of all incumbents seeking reelection are returned to office but about 10% of the Members retire or seek other office each term. So by a member's fifth term, he or she can be in a very senior position and make seniority work [for] their constituents.”

As the mid-term election in only about three-months away and residents have started talking about who is running for office, there are the undecided voters and the new registered voters. And Samoa News asked, why should a new registered or undecided voter, vote for the incumbent for the Delegate Seat?

“Because I have the experience, know the system and am familiar to the leaders of both parties. My telephone calls get returned,” was Uifa’atali’s response to this Samoa News query.

“I love American Samoa and our people! It's so humbling to serve this way, and I'm grateful to God and our people. Even in a leadership position, I never forget that my primary role is one of being a servant of the people,” she said.

“As important as it is to continue and increase federal funding assistance, it is just as important and as gratifying to be able to solve individuals and families problems with the federal government, whether it's a visa or a veteran's benefit or a scholarship application, if we can help resolve it, it brings me great joy,” she points out.

Over the weekend, the Congresswoman issued an official media statement announcing her candidacy for re-election.

"It is a constant delight to serve the people of American Samoa as your elected representative. It never ceases to be humbling, and at the same time a great honor, to work every day for the betterment of our islands,” she said. “I ask for your vote on Election Day, November 8th, to preserve continuity and momentum in our ongoing efforts and priorities in Washington, D.C., such as a new hospital, that could help make our strategic location a beacon of U.S. commitment in the Pacific.

“Thank you so much to the hundreds of people who rapidly provided the signatures necessary to officially declare and qualify for the ballot,” she said and noted that the name on the ballot for her, “will still be Aumua Amata”.

Uifa’atali noted that over the years, she has made it “a practice to visit every village, a tradition I will always continue, and I look forward to seeing you and yours.”

"I am ready to navigate changes in Washington and press forward as we prioritize Veterans' services, education for our youth, and lasting health care solutions including a new hospital facility,” she said.

“In recent years, we've obtained several years of record federal funding, much better status for our Medicaid match, and five straight years of increases accumulating $4.3 million growth in our operations fund, with a sixth year and an additional million dollars currently pending in Congress,” she points out.

“In fiscal year 2022, we received $2.5 million that Congress directed to hospital planning -- a long term project that I'm passionate about seeing through, with a vision for a modern health care facility equipped through telehealth to consult efficiently with the best experts in the world,” she added.

"Ultimately, our true source of blessing is much higher than any government provision. 'Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!' (Psalm 33:12). Thank you for your consideration and your vote, and especially for your prayers. May God bless American Samoa! Thank you and soifua,” she concluded.

[Reporter’s note: Samoa News email questions - submitted more than a week ago – were sent through the Congresswoman’s personal email, not her official US Congress office email address. And the media statement announcing her re-election candidacy was send out via a personal email account.]