Gov. Lemanu calls on feds for more flexibility for emergency COVID funding

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In his virtual remarks delivered to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga called on the federal government to allow American Samoa “more flexible usage” of federal funding awarded to the territory from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA and Bipartisan Infrastructure Act — the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Lemanu joined governors from other U.S. territories in addressing yesterday the committee hearing on the state of the territories. The hearing was streamed live on the committee’s website.

The governor thanked the committee for their role in passing the ARPA and IIJA last year, saying that this “funding has allowed us to realize what we’ve hoped and dreamed of.”

He informed the committee that in a year, American Samoa has repatriated thousands of its residents after the advent of COVID-19 and has been able to work around travel restrictions limiting flights to and from the U.S. to two flights a month.

He also shared information on local vaccination efforts, saying that it has reached more than 80% of the population and counting, “and we continue to push through with our quarantine operations with the incoming flights.”

“It has been a roller coaster but God has been good to us among the highs and the lows of 2021,” he said, noting that the “pandemic has turned our world inside-out, thus trying to get back to normalcy is a challenge.”

“From health and welfare, security, education, food safety and security, infrastructure, life, our freedom, and faith, are all being tested by the COVID 19,” he said.

“While fighting on the front line for life and death because of the pandemic, leaders can’t suspend other long-time challenges of our Nation,” he said, for example, Global Warming, Education, Health, Transportation, Security, and basic daily needs.

While thankful for funds from the federal govrnment, the governor told congressional members that American Samoa faces challenges in expediting these emergency funds.

“We are seeking relief [from] matching local funds, we ask a more flexible usage of categories of federal funding, to be reallocated locally,” he declared.

“And due to isolation, shipping transportation for goods, fuel, building materials, not consistent and currently very slow, and especially the high cost of supplies recently, we are requesting an extension for end date or life of fundings,” he said.

The governor also shared the territory’s plans, such as new healthcare facilities, improvements to local seaports and airports, securing two landing crafts to service neighboring islands, upgrading broadband, and the shipyard services has improved its maintenance schedule.

“Funding for our schools has relieved pressure in old and worn-out buildings, needed maintenance and preparations for distance learning in case of emergencies and community spread in COVID cases,” he pointed out.

“We have been able to use funding to source and improve on technology in our networks not only in Education but our government,” he said.

Lemanu also submitted prepared remarks posted on the committee website, along with the full video of the hearing:

https://www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/2022/2/full-committee-hearing-to…