19 Apr 2017

US Vice-President to dedicate American Samoa clinic to 'Eni'

1:48 pm on 19 April 2017

The United States Vice President is expected to dedicate an outpatient clinic in American Samoa to the memory of the late Congressman Eni Faleomavaega Hunkin, who passed away in February.

Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin

Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin Photo: Free google search image

Mike Pence will make a stopover in Pago Pago this weekend.

After Faleomavaega's death, Congresswoman Aumua Amata introduced legislation to name the Veterans Administration outpatient clinic in his honour.

It was signed into law by President Donald Trump on 31 March.

The Congresswoman said she hoped to have a White House signing ceremony while Faleomavaega's widow Hina was in Washington for his memorial service, but there was no time.

US Vice-President Mike Pence gives a press conference after a meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on 20 February.

US Vice-President Mike Pence Photo: AFP

Mr Pence will be the third sitting US vice president to visit American Samoa.

Joe Biden was in Pago Pago for a refuelling stop last year and in 1989, Dan Quayle toured the main island of Tutuila.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs