[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 148 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8821-H8822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THANKING THE PEOPLE OF AMERICAN SAMOA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank our fellow 
Americans and the people of American Samoa for the opportunity they 
gave me to serve them.
  Having grown up in the small village of Vailoatai in American Samoa 
and having graduated from Kahuku High School in Hawaii, I never 
expected that the people of American Samoa would choose me to serve 
them in the U.S.

[[Page H8822]]

House of Representatives from the time they first elected me in 1988 
until 2014.
  I pay special tribute to them and to the late Paramount Chief A.U. 
Fuimaono, who served as American Samoa's first elected representative 
to Washington, D.C. Paramount Chief Fuimaono gave me the opportunity to 
serve as his chief of staff from 1973 to 1975, and I am grateful for 
all he taught me.
  From 1975 to 1981, it was my honor to serve with the late Congressman 
Phillip Burton, who was chairman of the House Subcommittee on 
Territorial and Insular Affairs. During my service as his chief 
counsel, he instructed me with drafting legislation providing for the 
first elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa and 
for American Samoa to be represented by a Delegate to the U.S. House of 
Representatives. I will always be grateful and thankful for the 
opportunity that I had to participate in such an historic undertaking 
for and on behalf of the people of American Samoa.
  After my service with Chairman Burton, the late Senate President, 
Paramount Chief Letuli Toloa encouraged me to come home and ai le pefu 
ma savali le ma`ama`a, which means, come back home to ``eat the dust 
and walk on the rocks'' so that I could feel the people's pains and 
sufferings and so that I might be able to serve them with more 
meaningful purpose.
  I followed his advice, and as I look back over my life of service, 
had I not returned to American Samoa to live among our people, it would 
have been impossible for the people of American Samoa to have entrusted 
me to serve them for nearly four decades at home and abroad.
  As I now leave this great institution, Mr. Speaker, I once more 
express my love for the people of American Samoa and to all my fellow 
Americans. I also want to express my love to my dear wife, Antonina 
Hinanui, who is from Tahiti, and our children for standing beside me 
throughout my years of service.
  I express my love for my late father, Eni Fa`aua`a, Sr., and my dear 
mother, Taualaitufanuaimeaatamali`i. I also want to thank my siblings 
for their unwavering support.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I publicly want to thank my colleagues, both 
Republicans and Democrats, in the House and the U.S. Senate. We have 
worked together in close cooperation for many years, and I will always 
be grateful for their steadfast friendship, as well as their constant 
support for the initiatives I put forward on behalf of the people of 
American Samoa.
  I especially want to thank our fellow Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. 
My service with the late Congressman Phillip Burton, who was like a 
father to me, led to my friendship with Congresswoman Pelosi. 
Congresswoman Pelosi and I have been family since our Burton days, and 
I am grateful that she has been a part of my life for all these years.
  I am also proud that Congresswoman Pelosi became the first woman in 
U.S. history to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. 
Congresswoman Pelosi will always hold a special place in my heart.
  I thank my friends from around the world, including diplomats and 
world leaders from Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Cambodia, 
Laos, Taiwan, both North and South Korea, China, India, Hong Kong, and 
elsewhere, for their friendship and support.
  I also want to thank my staff in Washington, D.C., and in American 
Samoa for their loyalty and dedication to me, to our Nation, and to the 
people of American Samoa.
  Above all, I thank my Heavenly Father for his guidance and 
protection.
  I go forward, Mr. Speaker, knowing that the best is yet to come and 
hoping that I will be remembered for trying my best. For the times I 
fell short, I ask for forgiveness.
  To each of my colleagues and to you, Mr. Speaker, I extend my kindest 
and highest regards. May God be with you always. Fa`afetai ma ia 
Soifua, meaning, in the Samoan language, thank you, and may peace be 
with you always.

                          ____________________