[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 145 (Tuesday, December 2, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1689-E1690]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HISTORICAL RECORD OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY GRANT FUNDING IN AMERICAN SAMOA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 2, 2014

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include, for 
historical purposes, information about National Emergency Grant funding 
in American Samoa.

                     [Press Release, Oct. 20, 2009]

  Faleomavaega Thanks U.S. Department of Labor for Releasing Over $24 
   Million to Assist Clean-Up and Recovery Efforts in American Samoa

       Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that the U.S. 
     Department of Labor has released over $24 million in National 
     Emergency Grant Funds to assist clean-up and recovery efforts 
     in American Samoa.
       ``I want to personally thank my good friend and former 
     colleague, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, for releasing 
     more than $24 million in National Emergency Grant funds to 
     help American Samoa rebuild,'' Faleomavaega said. ``The 
     people of American Samoa are deeply appreciative of the 
     support we are receiving from the federal government in the 
     aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck our 
     islands on September 29, and I thank the Obama 
     Administration, the U.S. Congress, FEMA, Secretary Solis, and 
     all others for standing with us as we begin the long and 
     difficult process of rebuilding our homes and lives.''
       ``I also want to thank Senator Inouye and Senator Akaka for 
     their unwavering support. Earlier today, we released a joint 
     statement applauding Secretary Solis' decision to release 
     more than $24 million in aid and, during these trying times, 
     I want to thank both Senators for their heartfelt words and 
     condolences.''
       ``With the outpouring of prayers being offered in our 
     behalf, I have every confidence that American Samoa will 
     rebuild but we will never be the same without the ones we 
     have lost. This is why I continue to convey my condolences to 
     the families and friends who have lost loved ones, and pledge 
     to do all I can as we work to recover.''
       The full text of the U.S. Department of Labor's 
     notification, which was sent to Faleomavaega, Senator Inouye, 
     Senator Akaka, and to members of the Congressional Asian 
     Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), of which Faleomavaega serves 
     as Vice-Chair, is included below:


                              NOTIFICATION

       Dear Faleomavaega/ Inouye/ Akaka Staff and CAPAC, Attached 
     is a release announcing a $24,857,608 National Emergency 
     Grant award from the U.S. Department of Labor to assist 
     clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of a tsunami that 
     struck American Samoa on Sept. 29.
       This grant is for clean-up and recovery from a natural 
     disaster. National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary 
     of labor's discretionary fund and are awarded based on a 
     state's ability to meet specific guidelines.
                                  ____


                     [Press Release, Oct. 20, 2009]

       $25 Million Grant for American Samoa Clean-Up and Recovery

       U.S. Senators Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye (D-
     Hawaii) and Delegate Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa) 
     today applauded a $24,857,608 federal grant to assist cleanup 
     and recovery efforts in American Samoa following last month's 
     destructive tsunami. The U.S. Department of Labor awarded the 
     funds to American Samoa's Department of Human Resources to 
     create more temporary jobs to assist in recovery efforts.
       ``I attended a memorial service in Washington this past 
     weekend and was reminded of the tremendous toll this tsunami 
     took: Entire villages destroyed, children and grandparents 
     lost, livelihoods ruined,'' Senator Akaka said. ``This grant 
     will help American Samoa create temporary on-island jobs so 
     residents can begin rebuilding their homes and 
     infrastructure, surveying environmental damage, and repairing 
     damaged industries.''
       ``Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those 
     affected by the earthquakes and tsunami in American Samoa. 
     The trauma suffered by the people dealing with the 
     devastation and tragic loss of life is difficult to 
     comprehend. These funds will help rebuild and restore the 
     property that was destroyed and damaged and hopefully restore 
     some semblance of the lifestyle that was lost,'' said Senator 
     Inouye.
       Delegate Faleomavaega said: ``I want to personally thank my 
     good friend and former colleague, U.S. Secretary of Labor 
     Hilda Solis, for releasing more than $24 million in National 
     Emergency Grant funds to assist clean-up and recovery efforts 
     in American Samoa. The people of American Samoa are deeply 
     appreciative of the support we are receiving from the federal 
     government since the earthquake and tsunami struck our 
     islands on September 29 and, once more, I thank the Obama 
     Administration, the U.S. Congress, FEMA, Secretary Solis and 
     all others for standing with American Samoa as we begin the 
     long and difficult process of rebuilding.''

[[Page E1690]]

       ``Our hearts go out to the victims and survivors of the 
     recent tsunami in American Samoa,'' said Secretary of Labor 
     Hilda L. Solis. ``Today's grant will support ongoing recovery 
     efforts and help American Samoans put their lives back 
     together.''
       Of the $24,857,608 announced today, $8,285,870 will be 
     released initially. Additional funding up to the amount 
     approved will be made available as the territory demonstrates 
     a continued need for assistance, according to the Department 
     of Labor.
       On September 29, the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
     (FEMA) declared all islands in the United States territory of 
     American Samoa eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance Program. 
     As a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs, Senator Akaka has been briefed by FEMA 
     officials on initial recovery efforts to send food, water, 
     cots, medical supplies, and working vehicles from the FEMA 
     Pacific Area Office warehouse in Honolulu to American Samoa. 
     Senator Akaka worked to establish and maintain this office 
     beginning in 1991 in order to protect isolated Pacific island 
     communities.
       For more information on National Emergency Grants, visit 
     http://www.doleta.gov/NEG.
                                  ____


                     [Press Release, Apr. 21, 2010]

 U.S. Department of Labor Notifies Faleomavaega that Over $16 Million 
 Will Be Released to ASG for About 2,200 Temporary Workers to Continue 
                     Clean-up and Recovery Efforts

       Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that the U.S. 
     Department of Labor (DOL) notified him this evening that it 
     will release $16,571,738 to ASG for about 2,200 temporary 
     workers to continue clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake 
     of the tsunami that struck American Samoa on September 29, 
     2009.
       On October 19, 2009 a National Emergency Grant (NEG) was 
     approved for up to $24,857,608, with $8,285,870 released 
     initially. This incremental and final NEG award will bring 
     total NEG funds awarded for clean-up and recovery efforts to 
     $24,857,608.
       ``I want to again thank my good friend and former 
     colleague, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, for releasing 
     more than $24 million in NEG funds to help create about 2,200 
     temporary jobs in American Samoa,'' Faleomavaega said. ``I 
     first contacted Secretary Solis in May of 2009 regarding NEG 
     funds in response to Chicken of the Sea's announced closure 
     and, on May 7, 2009, I provided Governor Togiola with the 
     contact information necessary to request assistance for our 
     workers, noting that any request put forward must originate 
     with the Governor.''
       ``While that effort was underway between ASG and DOL, 
     American Samoa was struck by a tsunami on September 29, 2009. 
     In response to the tsunami, DOL immediately and preemptively 
     reached out to ASG and assisted ASG in preparing and 
     processing a disaster national emergency grant application. 
     On October 19, 2009, ASG was then awarded over $24 million to 
     create about 2,200 temporary jobs for clean-up and recovery 
     efforts.''
       ``Discussions continue about how this grant might be more 
     fully expanded, if necessary. For now, the American Samoa 
     Department of Human Resources is responsible for the 
     administration of the grant and ASG, in consultation with the 
     DOL, determines who qualifies for temporary work.''
       ``Again, I thank DOL for its swift response in providing 
     temporary work for the people of American Samoa. The DOL can 
     be assured that the people of American Samoa are appreciative 
     of the support the federal government is providing them, 
     especially as we work together to rebuild and retool,'' 
     Faleomavaega concluded.
                                  ____


                     [Press Release, June 28, 2012]

   U.S. Department of Labor Awards $500,000 in Supplemental National 
Emergency Grant Funding to American Samoa Department of Human Resources

       Congressman Faleomavaega today announced that the U.S. 
     Department of Labor (DOL) this week awarded approximately 
     $500,000 in supplemental National Emergency Grant (NEG) 
     funding to the American Samoa Department of Human Resources.
       According to DOL, the funding will provide for the 
     continuation of workforce development services to workers who 
     held temporary jobs to assist with the clean-up and recovery 
     efforts following the earthquake and tsunami and subsequent 
     flooding that struck American Samoa in 2009.
       The initial NEG award of $24,857,608 was approved on 
     October 19, 2009, with $8,285,870 released initially and a 
     second increment of $16,571,738 was approved and released on 
     April 21, 2010. The supplemental funding of $500,000 
     announced this week will bring the total NEG funds awarded 
     for this project to $25,357,608. With the supplemental 
     funding, the project's period of performance is also extended 
     for two quarters, so that all participants have more time to 
     finish their full complement of reemployment services.
       ``I want again to thank my good friend and former 
     colleague, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, for releasing 
     more than $25 million over the past three years in National 
     Emergency Grant funds for American Samoa,'' Faleomavaega 
     stated.
       ``Immediately following the devastating earthquake and 
     tsunami that struck our islands on September 29, 2009, the 
     Department of Labor notified my office as well as the offices 
     of Senator Inouye, Senator Akaka, and the Congressional Asian 
     Pacific American Caucus, informing us of the outpouring of 
     millions of dollars of federal funding to help American Samoa 
     with clean-up and recovery efforts. The funding also provided 
     for needed jobs to employ American Samoans and help with our 
     local economy,'' Faleomavaega added.
       ``I also want to thank and acknowledge the great work by 
     our local leaders in the American Samoa Department of Human 
     Resources, including Department Director Evelyn Langford and 
     NEG Program Manager Tuimavave Tauapa'i Laupola, for the 
     tremendous job they've done in managing this program as well 
     as their tireless efforts in addressing the multifaceted 
     needs of the Territory in the aftermath of the devastating 
     2009 tsunami. I have every confidence that this funding will 
     continue to help our Territory rebuild,'' Congressman 
     Faleomavaega concluded.

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