FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

       “This amount represents a very small portion of the federal assistance American Samoa will receive this fiscal year in the form of grants,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.  “The majority of these grants and many others our government receives from the Federal government are what is called in the federal system formula grants.  That is when Congress pre-approves the levels of federal grants to be given to each State or Territory without the States or Territories competing for them.”  “Then there are “discretionary” funds that are authorized by Congress and awarded at the discretion of the Secretary of each Federal agency for which States and Territories may obtain simply by submitting an application or in a very few cases compete with other applications to get,” Faleomavaega said. 

Following are several federal grants recently awarded to American Samoa.

       ASG Dept. of Commerce-Coastal Management: $ 994,000 from U.S. Department of Commerce-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
The funds, which are distributed based on a formula approved by Congress, are provided to continue implementation of the territory’s federally approved coastal zone management program, including Territorial program administration and implementation; coordination of Territorial and Federal agency programs; pubic outreach; special projects; and implementation of the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program.

       ASG Dept. of Public Safety:  $300,000 from U.S. Department of Justice
This is a formula grant released under the National Criminal History Improvement Program which is designed to improve the nation’s pubic safety by enhancing the quality, completeness, and accessibility of the national’s criminal history and sex offender record systems.

       ASG Dept. of Public Safety:  $151,453 from U.S. Department of Justice
Awarded under the Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth-in-Sentencing (VOI/TIS) Program, this formula grant represents a supplement to the sixth-year of funding support to the Territory in developing additional capacity for violent offenders through construction or lease of prison beds.  The funds will be used to implement security upgrades through the expansion of the correctional facility’s perimeter fence, and for the renovation and enhancement of the security/guard post at the entrance of the Tafuna Correctional Facility, which was previously built with VOI/TIS funds.  A small portion of the grant will be used for administrative purposes.  Funds also may be used for expenses associated with implementing a program of drug testing, intervention, and sanctions for incarcerated offenders or offenders under corrections supervision.

       ASG Criminal Justice Planning Agency:  $108,000 from U.S. Dept. of Justice
This is a formula grant authorized by Congress under Title II of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquent Prevention Act of 1974. 

       ASG Criminal Justice Planning Agency:  $33,000 from U.S. Dept. of Justice
Distributed based on a formula approved by Congress, this grant is awarded under the Community Prevention Grants Program to reduce delinquency and youth violence by supporting communities in providing their children, families neighborhoods, and institutions with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities necessary to foster a healthy and nurturing environment which supports the growth and development of productive and responsible citizens.

       ASG Criminal Justice Planning Agency:  $15,000 from U.S. Dept. of Justice
This Challenge Grant is awarded based on a formula approved by Congress for the purpose of providing incentives for participating States and Territories to develop, adopt, and improve policies and program in one or more of ten specified Challenge Activities.

       ASG KVZK-TV:  $178,783 from U.S. Department of Commerce-National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).  This discretionary grant is awarded based on the merits of the proposal application.  As it was approved, the grant is intended to improve KVZK’s production capability by purchasing DVCAM player/recorders, DVCAM players, a time-based-corrector, remote control unit, and monitoring equipment.

      ASG Dept. of Human & Social Services:  $124,650 from U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Serivces. This formula based grant is awarded under the Maternal and Child Health Programs to cover personnel and other related programs cost.

       ASG Dept. of Human & Social Services:  $50,000 from U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. This is discretionary non-competitive grant.  The funds are intended to develop capacity and to collect relevant data to serve the Mental Health Data Infrastructure and to help provide service to clients.