The U.S. Defense Department is now mandated by federal law to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of National Guard units in American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas.
The mandate was outlined in provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 signed December the 24th by U.S. President Barack Obama, after being approved by the U.S. Congress.
Provisions for the feasibility study were submitted by American Samoa's Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin.
The results of the study will be made available later this year.
