29 Jul 2005

US House approves US$33m for American Samoa

2:27 pm on 29 July 2005

The US House of Representatives has approved the Interior Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2006 which includes almost 33 million US dollars for American Samoa.

23.1 million dollars is earmarked for operations of the American Samoa Government, an increase of 331,000 above the fiscal year 2005 level.

The House has directed that 2 million dollars be set aside to buy medicine for the LBJ Hospital.

The territory's member of the US Congress, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, says American Samoa is fortunate to be the only state or territory to receive federal funds for the operations of its local government at a time when the US government faces serious budget cuts to fund the war on terror.

Funding for the territory also includes $9.5 million for construction and capitol improvement projects.

The Interior Appropriations language bill includes a recommendation that all federal agencies issuing grants to American Samoa set conditions to improve the management and accountability of federal grants.