Amata announces 2006 Congressional Candidacy: "Opportunities within our reach"
June 13, 2006

Reprinted from American Samoa Tribune, The Samoa Post and Samoa News
June 13, 2006

I have decided to run for the office of congressional delegate in Washington in the year 2006 and represent the people of American Samoa to the fullest. With your vote and support I promise to take full advantage of the financial, social, economic and health opportunities our territory can enjoy to the fullest and most productive, through a partnership with congressional and executive leaders in Washington.

First and foremost I want to thank the voters for their tremendous support in 2004. Your support indicated that many of you voted for change. I expect that, given the events of the past two years, we will achieve that change on November 7, 2006.

I am asking for your vote on election day and I look forward to serving you, your vital interests and your families. Our collective welfare and well-being depends on a compassionate and realistic ability to work the political system in Washington, a system I know both inside and out, based on my 30 years as a Washington insider.

To serve you most effectively, we need to address the most important issues facing our society.

Health is one of those issues and I promise to find new funding for new hospital facilities. Diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and kidney diseases are chronic problems we need to solve in order to raise the quality of life for people of all ages. Treatment is important, but so is preventive care education. Together we can find the necessary financial resources to improve our lives.

Education is of course the key to financial well-being. Let us again look to the future of our children and families. Their quality of education will play a major role in how they find their way financially and socially. Better facilities, financial support for our dedicated teachers and administrators are goals I hope to achieve with Washington financial resources. As you certainly know, and what you expressed to me in 2004 has made education a priority in my 2006 campaign.

Another issue you have made clear in 2004 is the future of our economy. I see a brighter future, although there are obstacles before us. Two factors encourage me. The productivity of our work force, that is, the effort each one of us brings to the workplace, is extremely high in American Samoa. The opportunities our status in Washington offers us bridges a path to new industry in many areas, including commerce, technology and manufacturing. I promise not to explore these opportunities, but to bring jobs to territorial residents of all ages.

My admiration for the men and women who serve us in the Armed Forces of the United States is, like all of yours, both patriotic and respectful. As your delegate I promise to see that our soldiers, sailors, marines, coast guard and air force personnel receive all of the benefits in housing, medical care, education and returning job opportunities will be there from Washington when and where the active duty soldiers and veterans need them. I also will see that the educational training required to enlist our young people will assure their future prosperity.

How we achieve these ambitious goals depends largely on our ability to gain the support of Congress and Executive Branch. I must honestly tell you that a non-voting delegate has limited reach and influence in the corridors of power in Washington.

I promise to you that after 30 years of experience in Washington and American Samoa, there is more than one way to raise the financial support we need to assure our financial growth and security in the future. Sometimes a political favor is just as effective as a new piece of legislation thrown in the legislative hopper. Honestly, I have cultivated in my political career the necessary political ties to make our goals a reality.

To accomplish these goals I ask for your support and vote on November 7, 2006. As your elected delegate, we will forge a new and positive relationship with Washington that will benefit our families and each and every one of us for future economic and social security and happiness.