Amata Welcomes $780,000 in Three OIA Grants for the Maintenance Assistance Program

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata welcomes a total of $780,211.95 awarded to the American Samoa Government in fiscal year 2024 through the Office of Insular Affairs Maintenance Assistance Program (MAP). The award was notified by Assistant Secretary Carmen Cantor in a letter to Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga and Congresswoman Aumua Amata.

The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), of the Department of the Interior (DOI), awarded these Fiscal Year 2024 MAP funds to American Samoa Government (ASG) for three projects, based on the application efforts of ASG:

• $283,325.95 to Department of Veterans Affairs for the Veterans Memorial Monument Project.

• $280,000 to the Office of Search and Rescue for the Emergency Transportation and Maintenance MAP Program

• $216,886 to the Department of Health, Office of Community Health Centers for the Building Resilience: Enclosing the Well Baby Clinic Waiting Area at the Tafuna Community Health Center.

The award is part of FY24 appropriations approved by Congress after conducting several budget hearings. Building on this congressional support, the MAP funds further enhance the efforts of the American Samoa Government and underscore the commitment to addressing local needs and supporting critical infrastructure and health services.

"Congratulations to Governor Lemanu and thank you to Assistant Secretary Cantor for this announcement," concluded Amata. "Thank you to the local ASG team who applied for the grant. This $780,000 in MAP grants will greatly benefit American Samoa by improving our infrastructure and health services, demonstrating our continued commitment to strengthening our community".

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