[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 104 (Thursday, July 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                IN HONOR OF THE LIFE OF PAT LUCE-AOELUA

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. ENI F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2012

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a pioneer, a 
leader, an advocate, and a dear friend, Pat Luce-Aoelua, who recently 
passed away in Los Angeles, California.
  Pat was born in Fagatogo, American Samoa in 1944 to Ioane Afele Levi 
and Fanuaea Vaitupu Tu'ufuli Levi and was adopted by American 
missionaries, Maurice and Corabelle Luce, in 1946. Later, Pat and her 
adoptive parents immigrated to California in 1952 where Pat attended 
school and began her career. She received her Bachelor of Arts in 
Psychology from California State University at Sacramento and her 
Master of Science in Counseling from the University of California at 
Davis.
  Pat was the Executive Director of the National Office of Samoan 
Affairs (NOSA) that was based initially in San Francisco and later 
moved its headquarters to Carson, California. She, together with other 
Samoan community leaders in California, founded NOSA in 1976 to bridge 
the federal and state agencies with the local Samoan communities. Some 
of the community leaders included Senator and Paramount Chief Galeai 
Tu'ufuli, High Talking Chief Leuluso'o Leatutufu, and Matau Taele. Pat 
and NOSA made sure that they worked closely with the elder chiefs and 
local Samoan church organizations in advocating for Samoans and Pacific 
Islanders both on the state and federal level, in better assisting the 
needs of the elderly, and providing opportunities for the younger 
generation.
  In the late 1970s, Pat was very active within the Samoan community in 
northern California. As she became more involved in the 1980s, Pat was 
instrumental in allowing American Samoans to become eligible for 
Federal funding and programs through the Native American programs. She 
also spearheaded the movement in passing state legislation in 
California providing for the identification and tabulation of Pacific 
Islanders as an ethnic group in the California state and county 
systems.
  Pat is not only a leader amongst the Samoan community but especially 
within all of the Asian and Pacific American communities throughout all 
the U.S. In 1980, through Pat's leadership and diligence, she was able 
to fight for the inclusion of Pacific Islanders as an identifier in the 
U.S. Census, a category that remains today. Pat's philosophy was 
ensuring that much of the needs of the Pacific Islanders could be 
addressed with the use of data collected through the decennial census 
and other government surveys.
  Although Pat has left us and began a new journey, her legacy will 
remain vigilant through torch bearers made up of the many new young 
Pacific Island leaders who have been under Pat's tutelage over the past 
three decades who today are working closely with their communities and 
advocating for those who are disenfranchised.
  I want to take this time to offer my personal condolences to Pat's 
husband, Tuimavave Aoelua, their only daughter--Corabelle, and to their 
many families and friends who are mourning the loss of one of Samoa's 
strongest daughters. I pray the Lord will comfort them during this 
tragic time.
  Pat will be greatly missed. Ia manuia lau malaga.

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