[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 56 (Friday, March 30, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E697]]



  A BILL TO PROVIDE THAT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES IN AMERICAN SAMOA SHALL BE 
PAID THE SAME NON-FOREIGN AREA COST-OF-LIVING ALLOWANCE AS IF STATIONED 
      IN GUAM OR THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

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                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2007

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce 
legislation to provide that Federal employees stationed in American 
Samoa be paid the same non-foreign area cost-of-living allowance as 
stationed in Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
  To date, American Samoa is the only non-foreign area in which Federal 
employees do not receive a cost-of-living allowance. Given that 
American Samoa faces many of the same issues driving higher prices for 
goods, services, and travel that face other territories in similar 
situations, it seems discriminatory that the Office of Personnel 
Management (OPM) has chosen not to provide COLA to Federal employees in 
American Samoa. Further exacerbating this problem is the fact that 
``post differential'' compensation is paid to Federal employees who are 
working here who have come in from other areas of the country. As a 
result, the only non-foreign area Federal employees who do not receive 
any additional compensation are those Federal employees from American 
Samoa, working in American Samoa.
  This legislation would remedy that inequity by providing COLA for our 
Federal employees at the same rate as has been determined by OPM to 
apply in Guam and CNMI. I urge my colleagues to join me in resolving 
this issue by supporting this legislation that would provide fair 
compensation to American Samoa's Federal employees.

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