[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1656-E1657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF VILLAGE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS IN AMERICAN SAMOA

______

HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

of american samoa

in the house of representatives

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include, for
historical purposes, the legislative history of village road
improvements in American Samoa.

[Press Release, Mar. 25, 2004]

House Transportation Committee Agrees To Increase Highway Funding for
Territories and Include $14 Million for Village Road and Other
Improvements in American Samoa

Congressman Faleomavaega announced that the House Committee
on Transportation agreed yesterday to increase federal
highway funding for the Territories and include $14 million
for village road and other improvements in American Samoa.
Although this bill still must pass the House and Senate, I
am pleased that my

[[Page E1657]]

good friends Chairman Don Young and Ranking Member Jim
Oberstar of the House Transportation Committee have agreed to
increase transportation funding for the Territories,
Congressman Faleomavaega said. Congresswoman Madeleine
Bordallo (Guam), Congresswoman Donna Christensen (VI) and I
have worked on this issue for the past year and Congressman
Nick Rahall, Ranking Member of the House Resources Committee,
has supported our efforts.
As a result of our work, the Territorial Highway Program
(which includes American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands
and CNMI) will be increased from $33 million to $40 million
for FY04, FY05 and FY06. For FY07, FY08 and FY09, funding
will increase to $50 million. Despite the Transportation Act
(now known as TEA-LU) being $100 billion less than what was
originally proposed, the Territorial set aside will increase
by 23.6%.
Moreover, American Samoa will receive $14 million for high
priority projects including village road improvements,
drainage mitigation, shoreline protection and upgrades and
repairs of the Tau ferry terminal facility. On January 23,
2004, I called Governor Togiola to let him know that the
Committee had informed me of its intentions and asked that we
keep this information confidential until the Committee held
its mark-up. The Committee originally intended to hold its
mark-up in February but postponed it until March 24, 2004.
On February 4, 2004, I also wrote to Governor Togiola in
response to his January 15, 2004 letter to me. In my letter,
I explained that from 1992 to 2003 American Samoa received
over $77 million in federal highway funds including $12
million I obtained to improve village roads in American
Samoa.
Roads that are not part of the federal highway system are
ineligible for funding. This rule applies to every state and
territory and includes our village roads. Be that as it may,
I fought hard to convince my colleagues that an exception
should be made for American Samoa and in 1998 they agreed to
support my request for $12 million for village road
improvements.
The 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century is
now expiring and Congress is reauthorizing funds for the next
six years. Again, the House Transportation Committee has
agreed to my request for additional funds for American Samoa.
On March 5, 2003, the House Committee on Transportation
notified members of Congress that it would accept written and
oral testimony regarding requests for funding. On March 5,
2003, I wrote Governor Sunia and requested his input.
Although I did not hear back from Governor Sunia, I testified
and appeared before the Committee.
Initially, I requested money for a ferry boat and terminal
construction as well as funding for our village roads.
However, since September 2003, Governor Togiola and I have
worked together to obtain funding for the purchase of a
vessel for Manua and on January 22, 2004, the House Committee
on Transportation informed me that it would be able to grant
$14 million of my requests for highway projects in American
Samoa. This funding is in addition to our annual federal
highway funds.
In consultation with the Governor, we have set aside $9.4
million for village road improvements in the Eastern,
Western, Central and Manua districts of American Samoa. In
further consultation with Senator Tuaolo Fruean and High
Paramount Chief Mauga and members of the Pago Pago council of
chiefs, we have also set aside $1 million for drainage
mitigation for Pago Pago village roads.
In consultation with Senator Tago Suilefaiga,
Representative Fagasoaia Lealaitafea and Representative Mary
Taufetee and members of the Nu'uuli council of chiefs, we
have set aside $1 million for shoreline protection and
drainage mitigation for Nu'uuli village roads. In
consultation with Senator Faamausili Pola and members of the
Tau village council of chiefs, we have set aside $1.6 million
to upgrade and repair the Tau harbor facility.
Finally, in consultation with Senator Faiivae Galeai,
Senator Lualemaga Faoa and members of the Leone and Malaeloa
councils of chiefs, we have set aside $1 million for drainage
mitigation for Malaeloa-Leone village roads. Governor Togiola
and I thank our local leaders for their support of this
historic and important initiative and we are hopeful that the
House and Senate will pass this legislation before the 108th
Congress adjourns, the Congressman concluded.
____

[Press Release, Apr. 2, 2004]

House Passes Historic Transportation Bill and Includes Faleomavaega's
Request of Additional $14 Million for Village Road Improvements in
American Samoa

Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that by a vote of
357 to 65 the House passed H.R. 3550, the Transportation
Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU) which increases
federal highway funding for the Territories and includes an
additional $14 million for village road and other
improvements in American Samoa. The Senate has already passed
its version of TEA-LU and the bill will now go to conference
in May after which time it is expected that the President
will sign it into law.
Once signed into law, the Territorial Highway Program
(which includes American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands
and CNMI) will be increased from $33 million to $40 million
for FY04, FY05 and FY06. For FY07, FY08 and FY09, funding
will increase to $50 million. Despite the Transportation Act
(now known as TEA-LU) being $100 billion less than what was
originally proposed, the Territorial set aside will increase
by 23.6%.
In addition to our share of funds from the Territorial
Highway Program, American Samoa will receive an extra $14
million for high priority projects including village road
improvements, drainage mitigation, shoreline protection, and
upgrades and repairs of the Tau ferry terminal facility. At
this time, I want to thank my good friends, Chairman Don
Young and Ranking Member Jim Oberstar, of the House
Transportation Committee for agreeing to my requests to
increase American Samoas annual funding and to include an
extra $14 million for our village road improvements and other
high priority projects, Congressman Faleomavaega said.
Regarding our funding, I believe it is important to explain
how Congress authorizes transportation funds. Simply put, a
federal gas tax is collected nationally to fund the
transportation bill. Residents of American Samoa and other
territories are not required to contribute to this fund or
pay federal gas taxes. Although we pay no federal gas taxes,
Congress provides for our transportation needs by way of a
direct-set aside for the Territories and this is known as the
Territorial Highway Program.
Since 1992, American Samoa has received more than $77
million in federal highway transportation funds including $12
million I obtained in 1998 to improve village roads in
American Samoa. Roads that are not part of the federal
highway system are ineligible for funding. This rule applies
to every state and territory and includes our village roads.
Be that as it may, I fought hard to convince my colleagues
that an exception should be made for American Samoa and in
1998 I was able to get $12 million for Village Road
Development on the islands of Tutuila and Manua.
This was the first time that Congress ever agreed to let
federal highway funds be used for constructing roads that are
not part of the federal highway system and I am pleased that
Congress acted favorably on my request. The 1998
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century is now
expiring and Congress is reauthorizing funds for the next six
years. As of today, the House has now agreed to support my
request to provide American Samoa with an additional $14
million over the next six years for village roads and other
transportation improvements.
In consultation with Governor Togiola, we have set aside
$9.4 million for village road improvements in the Eastern,
Western, Central and Manua districts of American Samoa. In
further consultation with Senator Tuaolo Fruean and High
Paramount Chief Mauga and members of the Pago Pago council of
chiefs, we have also set aside $1 million for drainage
mitigation for Pago Pago village roads.
In consultation with Senator Tago Suilefaiga,
Representative Fagasoaia Lealaitafea and Representative Mary
Taufetee and members of the Nuuli council of chiefs, we have
set aside $1 million for shoreline protection and drainage
mitigation for Nuuli village roads. In consultation with
Senator Faamausili Pola and members of the Tau village
council of chiefs, we have set aside $1.6 million to upgrade
and repair the Tau harbor facility.
Finally, in consultation with Senator Faiivae Galeai,
Senator Lualemaga Faoa and members of the Leone and Malaeloa
councils of chiefs, we have set aside $1 million for drainage
mitigation for Malaeloa-Leone village roads. Again, Governor
Togiola and I thank our local leaders for their support of
this historic and important initiative.
I also thank Chairman Don Young (Republican from Alaska)
and Ranking Member Jim Oberstar (Democrat from Minnesota) of
the House Committee on Transportation as well as the
Honorable Nick Rahall, Ranking Member of the House Committee
on Resources, for their support of increased funding for the
Territories. I also commend Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo
(Guam) and Congresswoman Donna Christensen (VI) who have also
worked tirelessly to increase funds for the Territorial
Highway Program.
Out of 422 members of the House who voted today, 357
overwhelmingly voted to support this historic legislation. In
other words, its not about whose in the majority. It takes
both Democrats and Republicans to get the job done. It also
takes seniority and this is why I am thankful that the people
of American Samoa have trusted me time and time again to get
the job done for them. With your continued support and
prayers, I am hopeful that our increases and add-ons will be
supported when the House and Senate meet in May to conference
this bill, the Congressman concluded.

____________________