[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17446-17447]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 
          TSUNAMI THAT STRUCK AMERICAN SAMOA, SAMOA AND TONGA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember those who 
lost their lives last year on September 29 when American Samoa was hit 
by the most powerful earthquake of 2009 which struck below the ocean 
about 140 miles southwest of Pago Pago, American Samoa, and 125 miles 
south of Samoa.

[[Page 17447]]

  The earthquake, which registered 8.3 on the Richter scale, set off a 
massive tsunami that crashed into American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga, 
sweeping cars and people out to sea as survivors fled to high ground. 
In American Samoa, many children running for home unknowingly ran in 
the direction of the tsunami.
  Entire villages in American Samoa and the neighboring islands of 
Samoa and Tonga were devastated by the disaster. In response, the 
United States answered with a generous and heartfelt outpouring of aid.
  As we pause to remember the lives lost and the families impacted, I 
want to once more publicly thank President Obama for his leadership 
during this tragedy. The Obama Administration continues to stand with 
us and, on behalf of all Samoans, I thank the Administration for its 
swift response.
  I also want to thank U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her 
unwavering support. At my request and the request of Congresswoman 
Laura Richardson, Secretary Clinton authorized the immediate airlift of 
92,000 pounds of emergency supplies collected by Samoan and non-Samoan 
communities in the Los Angeles, California area as well as by our 
Samoan and Tongan communities in Salt Lake City and St. George, Utah 
under the direction of Reverend Elder Liki Tiatia, Reverend Dr. John 
Mailo, Reverend Dr. Misipouena Tagaloa, High Chief Loa Pele Faletogo, 
and HC Papali'i Misiona Patane.
  In American Samoa, a team of more than 300 responders from the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross, the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) and other Federal agencies coordinated relief and 
recovery operations.
  The United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the Hawaii Air 
National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve American Samoa provided 
critical transport of the life-saving and life-sustaining supplies and 
equipment to meet the immediate needs of the survivors, including more 
than 26,000 meals, 14,000 liters of water, 1,800 blankets, 800 tents, 
more than 800 cots, and 9 pallets of medical supplies and medical 
equipment in support of American Samoa's mass care operations.
  The U.S. Department of Labor released over $24 million in National 
Emergency Grant (NEG) funds to assist clean-up and recovery efforts in 
American Samoa, although an average disaster NEG is only about $5 
million.
  FEMA has projected, or set aside, over $155 million for recovery 
efforts. So far, about $65 million has been obligated and about $45 
million has been disbursed pending action from the applicant to define 
scopes of work or provide information necessary to clear environmental 
compliance.
  Of this $155 million set-aside, FEMA has projected that about $77 
million will be used for infrastructure. Of this $77 million, $15 
million has been obligated, but only $7 million has been disbursed. 
According to FEMA, the program is based on reimbursement so FEMA cannot 
disburse until the American Samoa Government (ASG) requests a manual 
drawdown based on receipts submitted.
  Regarding housing, FEMA initiated a pilot program and planned two 
phases of construction. Phase 1 required the construction of 8 homes 
and 10 additional site preparations. All of this work is completed and 
the 8 homes are occupied. Costs for Phase 1 are still being finalized.
  A contract award for Phase 2 is expected to occur in early October 
with ground-breaking expected to take place in mid-to-late October. A 
local business is expected to be issued the contract award for Phase 2. 
33 homes are expected to be constructed in Phase 2. Overall, the entire 
pilot program currently stands at 41 homes.
  The U.S. Congress also set aside an additional $1.2 million to 
provide direct assistance to ASG for the disaster through the U.S. 
Department of the Interior.
  In addition to more than $200 million federal dollars described 
above, Samoan students at the Wentworth Military Academy collected 
$32,000. They donated $15,000 in cash to the American Samoa Voluntary 
Organizations Active in Disaster (ASVOAD) and the remaining amount was 
given to their families in American Samoa, and also used to provide 
airfare for the students to visit their families during the time of the 
disaster. I am so proud of these students who showed true leadership 
and courage in the face of adversity.
  Some of my dearest friends and acquaintances also came to our aid. 
Without being asked, they contacted my office immediately after the 
tragedy wanting to make donations and help in whatever way they could.
  For historical purposes, I am listing their names below because no 
act of kindness should ever pass by without sincere acknowledgment to 
the persons, governments and organizations who gave so generously. They 
are:
  Chairman Li Ka Shing (Li Ka Shing Foundation) (Presented to PM 
Tuilaepa on behalf of the people of American Samoa)--$100,000.
  Chairman Li Ka Shing (Li Ka Shing Foundation) (Presented to Am. Samoa 
Disaster Relief and Recovery Program)--$150,000.
  Chairman Seung-Youn Kim (Hanwha Group) (presented to American Samoa 
Red Cross: $62,985 for caskets of deceased in Am. Samoa; $37,015 
remainder to Am. Samoa Red Cross)--$100,000.
  President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Republic of Kazakhstan (Presented to 
Am. Samoa Disaster Relief and Recovery)--$50,000.
  Government of Thailand (Presented to Am. Samoa Disaster Relief and 
Recovery Program)--$15,000.
  Government of Taiwan (Presented to Am. Samoa Red Cross)--$10,000.
  Mr. Raymond Calamaro, Esq. (D.C. Attorney) (Presented to Am. Samoa 
Red Cross)--$1,000.
  Mr. Steven Kirchof (Florida Businessman) (Presented to Am. Samoa Red 
Cross)--$1,000.
  Also, I again want to make special mention of Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton who really fought to make an airlift possible.
  DC10 Charter flight (authorized by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary 
Clinton for shipment of 92,000 pounds of aid to Apia, Samoa)--$300,000.
  Total--$727,000.
  While American Samoa is now on the road to recovery, there is still 
much work to be done. But with the faith and support and prayers of our 
people and with the additional funds ASG is receiving from the federal 
government as a result of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act 
(ARRA), we have every opportunity to forge ahead and become stronger 
than before, and I thank my colleagues for standing with American 
Samoa.

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