Interior releases $7.8M for American Samoa

WASHINGTON, D.C.—This week the Office of Insular Affairs released $7.8 million in remaining grant assistance for fiscal year 2017 to the American Samoa government through the Office of Insular Affairs’ Operations Grant Program. These funds are what remained of the annual $22.75 million needed to support the daily operations of the American Samoa government, the LBJ Tropical Medical Center, the American Samoa Community College, and the high court of American Samoa. The purpose of this program, as mandated by Congress, is to fund the difference between budget needs and local revenue and remains constant each year to support government operations.

“These funds are critical for government operations in the territory of American Samoa,” said acting Interior assistant secretary for Insular Areas Nikolao Pula. “We are pleased to transmit the remaining funds on behalf of the administration.” (PR)