American Samoa's governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has asked the territory's Congresswoman Aumua Amata to introduce federal legislation providing for annual funding for the territory of $US50 million dollars.
Lolo Matalasi Moliga at his State of the Territory address. Photo: RNZI / Monica Miller
The US Congress provides, through the US Department of Interior's Office of Insular Affairs, about $US23 million annually for American Samoa government operations, but it is planning to cut this.
Lolo Maliga told the Fono this week the territory's $US23 million Grant in Aid has not increased since 1986.
He said for American Samoa to maintain its infrastructure, to improve services to its people and to attract outside investment, more money was needed.
Lolo said he has asked Aumua Amata to introduce legislation calling for the Congressional annual funding to increase to $US50 million dollars to finance government operations including $US25 million dollars for capital improvement projects to replace deteriorating infrastructure.
