Radewagen welcomes opportunity to pass COFA legislation as Pacific security priority

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Early Saturday morning, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) informed Delegate Uifa’atali Amata Radewagen (R-A. Samoa) that House leaders had reached bipartisan agreement on a package of spending bills that includes renewal and funding for the Compacts of Free Association or COFA. Members of the full House will be asked to approve the bills this coming week.

“Amata is a valued member of our conference,” said the speaker. “I worked closely with her and particularly appreciated her leadership on the COFA renewal, which is of great importance to national security. When it comes to Pacific Island issues in the House, we always look to Amata.”

Radewagen expressed her appreciation for the speaker’s confidence and thanked him “for keeping me informed as he worked with other House leaders in deciding on the legislative vehicle for this urgent national security priority.” The congresswoman played a key role in moving the bill through the House, serving as chairman of the Natural Resources Committee’s Indo-Pacific Task Force, which took the lead in addressing the legislation proposed by the Biden Administration following diplomatic negotiations with the three compact nations.

“Under House rules, Members must be given 72 hours to review the content of the legislation,” explained Radewagen, “so we anticipate a vote for final passage on Wednesday.” Once adopted by the House and Senate, COFA will serve as the foundation for relations for the next generation with the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.

“As a representative from among the Pacific Island people, it was an honor to have a part in this historic legislation,” she continued. In addition to having been raised in American Samoa, her family lived in the Marshalls and Marianas for 17 years and she was schooled in Hawaii before graduating from the University of Guam.

“Most importantly, the COFA agreements send a clear message of U.S. commitment to the Pacific region and take a much-needed international strong stand for the ideals of democracy and freedom.”

After task force hearings chaired by Radewagen in July at Natural Resources Committee chairman Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) behest, the full committee adopted the measure unanimously and reported it out to the House.

The legislation, once approved by Congress and signed by President Biden, will continue to affirm the COFA states’ sovereignty and deep friendship with the U.S., and ensure U.S. defense of an area of the Pacific waters the size of the contiguous 48 U.S. states. House leadership, recognizing the immense policy importance, has included COFA in a package of spending bills that require passage by Friday to stave off a partial closure of the federal government when a temporary funding agreement is due to expire.

In addition to taking the opportunity to express appreciation to Westerman for asking her to chair the COFA task force, she also thanked him for the time, effort and leadership he exercised to oversee the process.

“I was grateful that the chairman led a committee delegation to the capitals of the three COFA states to meet in person with their respective heads of government and hear firsthand of their concerns. It was important exposure for delegation members, which strengthened their understanding of these islands,” concluded the congresswoman.

The congresswoman’s other committee assignments as co-chair of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, and vice chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs gave her three additional platforms to press for House action on the Pacific pacts.

With the speaker’s blessing, the congresswoman called the three FAS presidents and two governors Saturday to give them the good news in advance of the Sunday formal release of the details of the funding package. (PR)