Congressman Faleomavaega today announced that American Samoa’s initial funding entitlement under the stimulus law recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barak Obama totals over $33.3 million so far.

“This amount has been earmarked for American Samoa at this point, and other funding programs are still being reviewed, including those on the competitive level for which American Samoa is also entitled to apply,” Faleomavaega explained.

“Under the stimulus package, the highest allocation for American Samoa so far is for State Energy Program at $18.5 million. This is to create programs for fuel efficient systems of living to alleviate the straining budgets of working families; reduce transportation costs, and explore alternate energy sources suitable and adaptable to American Samoa,” Faleomavaega said.

“The second highest is through the Department of Justice at $5 million to set up programs to control crimes, improve law enforcement, enhance drug free programs, and assist in investigating and prosecution of all kinds of criminal offenses,” Faleomavaega said. 

Following are the allocated programs and their amounts beginning from the highest:
 
 State Energy Program                                         $18,550,000
 JAG Justice Dept. Assistance Program                    5,000,000
 Clean Water Revolving Fund                                   3,573,100
 Child Care and development Block Grant                2,460,000
 Community Services Block Grant                            1,309,182
 Violence Against Women Grant                                 626,903
 Homelessness Prevention Fund                                  412,935
 Transit Formula Funding                                            341,099
 Community Development Block Grant                       268,005
 Dept. of Labor Dislocated Workers State Grant        187,500
 Dept. of Labor Youth State Grants                            171,748
 Dept. of Education Vocational Rehabilitation              160,304
 Emergency Food and Shelter Program                       103,950
 Crime Victims                                                             81,113
 Dept. of Labor Adult State Grant                                75,000
 Senior Meals Program                                                13,654
 TOTAL                                                            $33,334,493

“I am very thankful that this money is now available to us for starters under the Stimulus Act.  President Barak Obama, in proposing this legislation before Congress, emphasized that this money be made available to all states and territories for short term job creation, and to spur economic development in the long run,” Faleomavaega emphasized.

“We have a lot of unemployment problems, especially with our young people, and our economy is in dire need of development.  I am confident that our government, business and community leaders will take advantage of this blessing, and work together to use this money for the purposes it was intended and given under,” Faleomavaega said.

“Since this additional $33.3 million will have a dramatic impact to our annual budget in terms of significant changes in funding existing programs, and with the implementation of new programs and more jobs, I hope our two branches of government will work together and corporately concur on what is best for us all,” Faleomavaega concluded.