“A House-Senate conference report authorizing an increase of $300,000 for the food stamp program in American Samoa passed the House this week.  When signed into law, this would bring our total Federal food stamp funding to more than $5.6 million per year,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.  

       “The bill also provides that our funding will be indexed for inflation each year with the first increase taking effect on October 1, 2002,” the Congressman continued. “For the first time in the history of our food stamp program, the bill also includes a provision to continue funding for American Samoa’s food stamp program through fiscal year 2007.”

       “This means that for the next five years American Samoa will receive more than $5.6 million per year in Federal food stamp funding to provide for the needs of our blind, disabled and low-income elderly.  I am very pleased that our friends in the House and Senate recognized our need and responded to my request for additional assistance in such a positive manner,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.  

       “I especially want to thank Congressmen Larry Combest and Charles Stenholm the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee, and Senators Tom Harkin and Richard Lugar, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee,” the Congressman said.  “The Senate is expected to consider the bill in the near future and the Secretary of Agriculture has said he will recommend that the President will sign the legislation into law if it is presented to him.”