August 5, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. ---- FALEOMAVAEGA OBTAINS STUDY FOR FEDERAL BUILDING IN AMERICAN SAMOA

Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that, in response to his request, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has adopted a resolution directing the General Services Administration (GSA) to conduct a study to determine the need and feasibility of constructing a federal building in American Samoa.

"It has been ten years since the last study was done to determine if there is a need in American Samoa for a building in which many of the federal offices currently scattered throughout the territory could be housed," said Faleomavaega. "The 1988 analysis resulted in a determination that a new building was not warranted, but with the increased federal presence in American Samoa, I know that such a building is justified, and I am hopeful that the GSA study will come to the same conclusion."

"For too long, the High Court of American Samoa has been housed in a building much too small for the work it does. This is a federal court, after all, with the two High Court justices receiving federal appointments, and I think it is time the federal government provided them with a satisfactory courthouse," continued Faleomavaega.

"Our local government and the residents of American Samoa have had the benefit of the increased efficiency associated with the Executive Office Building in Utulei for some time, and it is now time for our residents to benefit from the increased efficiency which would be provided by locating the many federal agencies in one building," noted the Congressman.

Federal departments and agencies with offices in American Samoa include the Social Security Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Army Reserve (and its Post Exchange), the United States Army Recruiting Command, the United Sates Department of Agriculture (Meat Inspection, Soil and Water Conservation Service, Farmers Home Administration), the United States Department of the Interior (National Park Service and the Office of Insular Affairs), the United States Department of Commerce, the United States Postal Service, and the District Office of American Samoa's Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

It is expected that the General Services Administration will take several months to conduct its study and report back to Congress.