Chairman Gives Aumua Special Responsibility for Oversight and Investigations of Insular Areas

News Release from Office of Rep Aumua Amata (R-AS)

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, In response to her offer at the inaugural hearing of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Chairman Louie Gohmert (R-TX) assigned special responsibility to the freshman Congresswoman from American Samoa for any oversight and investigations relating to the insular areas, which are under the jurisdiction of the subcommittee. “Since you are the only member of the subcommittee from the islands, should you see a need for a hearing or any oversight for that (region), we will cooperate in any way we can due to your special position,” said Chairman Gohmert.

 Congresswoman Aumua Amata Addresses the Subcommittee

Amata also took the opportunity of the hearing entitled, "Zero Accountability: The Consequences of Politically Driven Science," to voice her strong concern with outside environmental groups dictating the use of the oceans surrounding the islands, without adequate consultation or regard for the people affected.

“As we all know, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the agency that provides oversight for our nation’s fisheries. We also know that it is no secret that NOAA is often influenced by the large environmental lobbies that have no personal stake in the region, when formulating the “science” that will be used to set policy for the nation’s fisheries. This often leads to questionable findings which are then used to smother industry,” said Amata.

“It is common knowledge that the best stewards of the environment are most often those who utilize it for their livelihood. After all, would any fisherman who counts on a steady and reliable catch want to deplete the resource that their family relies upon? Would a farmer continuously plant crops in the same field year after year, thereby depleting the soil, simply for a larger profit for just one year? While I am sure that these things do happen, it is certainly not the norm. ..No, these people care for their land and the waters that provide their income…certainly much more so than a lobbyist in Washington. So why is it that they have no say in how these resources are regulated?” concluded Amata.

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