Amata back in D.C. after Congress schedules more session days

Washington, D.C. —  is back in Washington for the upcoming few weeks due to a rapidly changing congressional schedule following recent events. 

Members of Congress received word over the weekend that Congressional Delegations in late July or early August are canceled by House leadership, as they have instead scheduled more session days, due to probable votes, investigation activities, or hearings related to the attempt on the life of former President Donald Trump and the security failures. Amata had been asked to take part in a regional CODEL before her upcoming return to American Samoa. 

“As a Pacific Islander, I am often asked to participate by chairmen leading bipartisan congressional delegations in the Pacific region, in part because I’m a familiar face for many of the Pacific leaders that meet with our delegations. We often have to be flexible for plans to suddenly change and this is one of those times,” said Aumua Amata.

“These trips are important to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the Pacific, and willingness to meet these leaders where they live and make sure Members are directly familiar with these allied nations as they vote. Current events in the U.S. are more immediate, and these are necessary security topics for the Congress to examine right now.”

By standard practice, CODEL itineraries are kept confidential until the group has departed each country on the trip. The expected travel will potentially be replanned for another time, and Amata expects to be able to return to American Samoa during the month of August.