Territorial delegates, all Republicans form transition committee

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The three Pacific territorial members of the 119th Congress — all serving as Republicans — Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata (R-AS), Congressman James C. Moylan (R-GU) and Congresswoman-elect Kimberlynn King-Hinds (R-MP), have formed a Pacific transition committee.

After the January 20th inauguration of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, James Braid who is expected to be Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs told them, “There have only been a handful of GOP trifectas since World War II. The transition team is looking forward to working with you to advance President Trump’s priorities on Capitol Hill during this historic opportunity to Make America Great Again. The transition welcomes the input of you and your team on personnel and policy.”

The members of Congress in turn have reached out to the highest-ranking elected Republican in each territory and the three Republican Party chairmen to serve on the committee. Governor Arnold I. Palacios (R-MP), recently rejoined the party formally after suspending his membership to run for governor as an independent in 2022, in which he defeated both the incumbent governor and a Democrat challenger. Last month, Governor-elect Pulaalii Nikolao Pula (R-AS) defeated a Democrat-affiliated incumbent in American Samoa’s non-partisan election. They are joined by Guam’s incoming Speaker, Frank Blas, Jr. (R-GU), who will lead a Republican majority in the legislature elected for the first time in 22 years.

Palacios and Pula recently advised Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley of their decision to become Republicans.

Rounding out the influential committee are territorial party chairmen Taualapapa William Sword (AS) and Sen.-elect Shawn Gumataotao (GU). They also will be joined by the Northern Marianas chairman, pending election. Gumataotao, who was elected to the Guam legislature for the first time last month, will retain his chairmanship of the Republican Party of Guam while serving in the legislature.

Speaking for the committee, Congresswoman Uifa'atali stressed that job seekers should feel free to reach out to any committee member as well as submit a resume and letters of recommendation by email to [email protected] if they are seeking endorsement by the full committee, which will operate by consensus.

“Committee members are not precluded from communicating directly with the Trump-Vance Transition to make policy and personnel recommendations,” said Uifa'atali, “but we expect that recommendations will be given greater weight if submitted by the committee, which consists of the most prominent senior Republican leaders in the American Pacific.”

Committee meetings and deliberations will be conducted by video-conference and a social media chat group, but the members also expect to meet on the sidelines of the Inauguration when they travel to Washington, D.C. next month. Continued Uifa'atali, “we will be inviting James Braid to meet with us as a group and also will be available to meet with other members of the incoming administration as requested.”

“Having been in the House for 10 years now,” said Radewagen, “I have served in the majority and the minority, served with Senate Republicans in majority and minority and with each party controlling the White House. This is the first time [during her tenure] Republicans will control both houses of Congress and the presidency at the same time. I’m very much looking forward to that.”

“It’s exciting to have an all-Republican group of territorial House members from the Pacific,” said King-Hinds, “and I will look forward to working together on common issues.” King-Hinds, who defeated a Democrat and three independents to win her seat, is the first-ever Republican member of Congress from the Northern Marianas.

In Guam, Congressman Moylan defeated the press secretary of a previous Democrat governor to win his first re-election bid after having ousted a Democrat incumbent in 2022 to become the first Republican elected to Congress in 32 years, since the late Congressman Ben Garrido Blaz won a third term. “The three of us are spread out over a number of committees, where most of the legislative preparation work is conducted,” said Moylan. “Because of that,” he explained, “I hope we will be able to look out for each other on important bills affecting all of us.”

The term “non-voting delegate,” which is found nowhere in the House rules, was coined over a half century ago by a congressman who, eager to have the seats created, wanted to minimize opposition by stressing that the delegates would not be voting on legislation. However, due to a prohibition in the U.S. Constitution, territorial members, including two from the Caribbean and one from the District of Columbia, are precluded only from voting on bills on final passage. Most legislation is crafted in committees, where territorial members have a full vote, with party leaders rarely bringing measures to the Floor without having sufficient votes in advance for passage. The three members also are accorded the same allotment of staff members and funding for district and Capitol Hill offices.

As is the case with Uifa'atali and Moylan, King-Hinds will accrue seniority, vote in committees and vote for policy and party leadership on an equal basis with members from the states and can serve in committee and leadership positions without restriction. They can introduce bills, participate in Floor debate, offer amendments and can preside over the Committee of the Whole. They even are eligible to serve as Speaker of the House.

Aspirants for Presidential appointment who want to have Pacific Transition 47 Committee endorsement are encouraged to submit their papers as soon as possible.

“This transition and the appointment process,” concluded Uifa'atali, “are moving much faster than the one in 2016, so candidates should move quickly.

“Multi-jurisdictional policy recommendations where we can speak with one voice will depend on the two governors and the speaker.”

The Committee will concentrate on Pacific Islanders seeking non-career positions anywhere in the federal government and qualified candidates of any background seeking federal positions in the Pacific Islands.