Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that because Congress will be in session through Friday and possibly the weekend to deliberate over the budget and other critical issues facing our country, and the unavailability of an airline flight for him to get to American Samoa in time for the Flag Day celebration, he will be unable to attend this weekend’s Flag Day festivities marking the 111th year since the raising of the United States flag on American Samoa’s soil. 

 “I sincerely regret that I will not be able to join our people in American Samoa for this year’s Flag Day celebration,” Faleomavaega said.  “As many may know, the federal government has been operating on short-term budget approvals since the beginning of the current fiscal year.  This week, Congress will continue debating the federal budget for FY2012 while the possibility of a government shutdown still lingers unless a budget agreement for the rest of this fiscal year is passed by Friday midnight.”
 
 “Since April 1900, our territory has been celebrating with pride our relationship with the United States of America.  One hundred and eleven years later, we are grateful for the military security of the United States and for the benefits and financial assistance we enjoy under the many federal programs available for our people,” Faleomavaega stated.

“At this time, I wish to congratulate our people for your service and contribution to the betterment of our territory.  I wish to congratulate and thank especially our men and women, past and present, who have served valiantly and honorably in our nation’s military forces and their families for the tremendous sacrifices they make for our nation.”

“Ia manuia lava le sisiga fu’a a Tutuila ma Manu’a, and may God bless the people of American Samoa and the United States,” concluded Faleomavaega.