[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 145 (Tuesday, December 2, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HISTORICAL RECORD OF U.S. TREASURY $20.4 MILLION STIMULUS PAYOUT TO 
                 QUALIFYING RESIDENTS 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 the U.S. Treasury's $20.4 
million stimulus payout to qualifying residents in American Samoa.

                     [Press Release, Apr. 28, 2008]

U.S. Treasury Sending $20.4 Million to ASG To Pay Out Economic Stimulus 
                    Payments to Qualifying Residents

       Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that the American 
     Samoa Government will receive $20.4 million from the U.S. 
     Department of Treasury to be paid out to qualifying residents 
     as part of the Economic Stimulus Package that was signed into 
     law to jumpstart the economy.
       Faleomavaega and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo urged the 
     Leadership of the House and Senate to include the Territories 
     in the stimulus package and make child tax credits and tax 
     rebates available to qualifying residents. The Members were 
     successful in their efforts and, prior to the bill being 
     signed into law, in a letter dated January 29, 2008, 
     Faleomavaega informed Governor Togiola and the Fono that, for 
     American Samoa, the U.S. Treasury would send a check of an 
     estimated amount and ASG must have a plan approved promptly 
     to disburse the money quickly.
       In a joint letter dated February 15, 2008 to Secretary 
     Henry M. Paulson of the Department of Treasury, Faleomavaega 
     along with Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, Congresswoman 
     Donna Christensen, and Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuno 
     also urged the Secretary to implement an arrangement that 
     will provide for the funds to be transferred in advance of 
     the actual payouts of the rebates.
       ``Today, Secretary Paulson has honored our request and I 
     thank him for informing my office that he has accepted ASG's 
     plan for distributing stimulus payments to residents of 
     American Samoa, and that ASG will receive a check for $20.4 
     million in order to payout tax rebates and child tax credits 
     to those who qualify,'' Faleomavaega said. ``This payment is 
     in accordance of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 that was 
     signed by the President on February 13, 2008.''
       ``The stimulus package was easily passed by both the House 
     and Senate and I, again, thank Chairman Charles Rangel of the 
     House Committee on Ways and Means and Chairman Max Baucus of 
     the Senate Finance Committee for supporting our request to 
     include the territories in the Economic Stimulus Act of 
     2008.''
       ``I also commend Governor Togiola and our local Tax Office 
     for acting quickly and submitting a plan that has been 
     approved by the U.S. Treasury. I am especially pleased that 
     the people of American Samoa will benefit from these rebates 
     which will help bolster our local economy,'' Faleomavaega 
     concluded.
       The full text of Secretary Paulson's letter of April 28 
     informing Governor Togiola of the approval of ASG's 
     Distribution Plan was forwarded to Faleomavaega's office by 
     the U.S. Department of Treasury and follows:
       Dear Governor Tulafono:
       Thank you for your letter of April 23, 2008, submitting the 
     Distribution Plan for the Recovery Rebates (the Plan) in 
     American Samoa. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, P.L. 110-
     185 (the Act), requires that I approve American Samoa's plan 
     for distributing stimulus payments to residents of American 
     Samoa. The Act also requires that once such a plan is 
     approved, the Treasury Department make a payment to American 
     Samoa in an amount estimated as being equal to the aggregate 
     benefits that would have been provided to residents of 
     American Samoa by reason of the amendments made to the 
     Internal Revenue Code by section 101(c) of the Act if a 
     ``mirror code'' tax system had been in effect in American 
     Samoa.
       In accordance with the Act, I approve the Plan, a copy of 
     which is enclosed. Also, we have estimated the aggregate 
     benefits that would have been provided to residents of 
     American Samoa by reason of section 101(c) of the Act if a 
     mirror code tax system had been in effect in American Samoa 
     at $20.4 million. A payment in this amount will be made by 
     the Treasury Department to American Samoa to fund the prompt 
     distribution of stimulus payments to resident of American 
     Samoa pursuant to the Plan.
       Sincerely,
       Henry M. Paulson, Jr.

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