“This region is critical to U.S. interests,” Congressman Faleomavaega said. 
“Nearly 60 percent of the world’s population lives in the Asia Pacific region, including the people of American Samoa.  The world’s six largest armed forces are also situated throughout the region.  China’s military force is the largest followed by the United States, Russia, India, North Korea, and South Korea.  The U.S. has fought three major wars in Asia in the last century, with enormous loss of life.”

       “U.S. trade with the Asia Pacific region is also significant.  U.S. businesses conducted more than $500 billion in trade and have invested more than $150 billion throughout the Asia Pacific region,” the Congressman said.  “Tuna, for example, is the third major fish commodity trade internationally and Thailand continues to be the largest exporter of canned tuna.  The main tuna catching nations are also in Asia.  Japan and Taiwan catch more tuna than any other nation in the world.  Indonesia and South Korea are also important tuna fishing nations.”

       “Given that American Samoa’s economy is more than 80% dependent, either directly or indirectly, on the tuna business, I am pleased to represent the interests of American Samoa as the Ranking Member of the House International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific,” Faleomavaega said.  “I am also pleased to represent the interests of our men and women serving in the military.  As I have said before, the threat of terrorism, nuclear build-up and military conflict in the Asia Pacific region is real.  There is serious concern in the U.S. Congress about al-Qaeda cells and terrorist activities throughout the region.  There is also serious concern about North Korea’s nuclear build-up.”

       “We cannot know what the future holds and we do not know when or where our service men may be called to serve.  What we do know is that these are critical times.  These are critical times for American Samoa and these are critical times for the United States of America,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.  “These are the times when American Samoa must have a voice in the economic and military affairs of our region.” 

       “Once again, I want to thank the people of American Samoa for their support and prayers.  It is only through your support and prayers that American Samoa now holds the number one Democratic seat on the House International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific which is responsible for reviewing the problems of foreign policy and security threats from rogue regimes that have or could gain power to create or use weapons of mass destruction.  This subcommittee also has broad responsibility for certain issues dealing with U.S. trade within the region and I am fully committed to doing everything I can through my service as Ranking Member to see that the interests of American Samoa are protected and represented,” the Congressman concluded.