AGP Executive Report

Territorial Citizenship: A new Senate bill would deny automatic U.S. citizenship to some children born in Guam based on their parents’ immigration status. Territorial advocates say no delegates appear to have been consulted; the measure is before the Judiciary Committee. Legislative Oversight: The Senate approved a new Government Operations Investigative Committee with subpoena and hearing powers. Separately, lawmakers are seeking an independent prosecutor and judicial review of the administration’s handling of $15.6 million in public funds; the House has endorsed both resolutions. Election 2026: Candidates for Tuala-uta’s two House seats are scheduled to take part in a public forum at ASCC as the Nov. 3 election approaches. Public Safety: Senators questioned Homeland Security, Public Safety and Customs officials about drug interdiction, citing methamphetamine reaching young people, including schoolchildren. Federal Influence: Rep. Jared Huffman, a cosponsor of American Samoa legislation, is seen as a likely House Natural Resources Committee chair if Democrats win control next month.

Senate Oversight: Senators approved a new Government Operations Investigative Committee with power to subpoena records, hold hearings and investigate government agencies. Public Funds: The House backed Senate resolutions seeking an independent prosecutor and court review of about $15.6 million in questioned spending, including ARPA interest funds and opioid settlement money. Drug Interdiction: Public Safety and Homeland Security officials testified as senators raised concerns about methamphetamine reaching schools and questioned how agencies handle drug interceptions at ports. Civic Engagement: An American Samoa student is among 52 finalists competing in the National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C.; C-SPAN will broadcast the championship. Fono: Lawmakers opened their new offices at the Fono complex, ending nearly nine years without permanent offices after the old building was demolished. Water Quality: AS-EPA’s Water Lab earned U.S. EPA certification for drinking-water testing through 2029.

Civic Education: An American Samoa student is among 52 finalists from across the U.S. competing in Wednesday’s National Civics Bee championship in Washington, D.C. C-SPAN will televise the event, whose winner receives a $100,000 education award. Public Funds Probe: The Senate and House have backed resolutions seeking an independent prosecutor and court review of about $15.6 million in questioned spending, including $10.1 million in ARPA interest. At a Senate hearing, insurance representatives said they had not issued a policy covering the investment, contradicting earlier administration testimony. Tax Watch: American Samoa remains on the EU’s list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, alongside Guam and six others, after Panama and Vietnam were removed and moved to a monitoring list. Seabed Mining: A federal judge’s upcoming ruling on American Samoa’s planned seabed-mining lease sale could shape a related Marianas lawsuit; the sale is tentatively set for November 19. Airport Energy: Port Administration is advancing a privately financed solar and battery project at Pago Pago International Airport, with up to 25 megawatts of generation and a target operating date of late 2027.

Public Funds Probe: The House endorsed Senate resolutions seeking an independent prosecutor and judicial review of the administration’s handling of $15.6 million: $10.1 million in ARPA interest, $5.3 million for payroll and $200,000 in opioid settlement funds. EU Tax List: The EU removed Panama and Vietnam from its blacklist but kept American Samoa among eight jurisdictions still listed as non-cooperative. Airport Energy: Port Administration is advancing a privately financed solar-and-battery project at Pago Pago airport, targeting up to 25 megawatts of solar power and operation by the end of 2027. Water Quality: AS-EPA’s water lab won U.S. EPA certification to test drinking water through 2029. Substance Policy: Governor Pula dissolved the Comprehensive Substance Abuse Council and established a new council to guide opioid and substance-abuse programs and oversee opioid settlement funds.

Fono: Lawmakers have opened their new offices in the Fono building, ending a wait that began when the old building was demolished in 2017. Public Funds: The House endorsed Senate resolutions seeking an independent prosecutor and possible court review of the administration’s use of about $15.6 million, including ARPA interest funds and opioid settlement money. The move follows testimony from insurance-company representatives who said they had not insured the controversial $10.1 million investment, contradicting earlier claims to lawmakers. Substance Abuse Policy: Governor Pulaali‘i dissolved the Comprehensive Substance Abuse Council and replaced it with a new council tasked with guiding opioid and substance-abuse programs and overseeing opioid settlement funds. EU Tax List: American Samoa remains on the European Union’s list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, alongside Guam and six others, after Panama and Vietnam were removed.

Public Funds Probe: The House has joined the Senate in backing resolutions seeking an independent prosecutor and court review of the administration’s handling of $15.6 million, including a $10.1 million ARPA-interest investment. Testimony from two companies that officials said were involved in insuring the investment raised doubts that any such policy was issued. EU Tax List: Panama and Vietnam were removed from the EU’s tax blacklist, but American Samoa remains among the eight jurisdictions still listed. Government: Gov. Pulaali’i dissolved the Comprehensive Substance Abuse Council and replaced it with a new council tasked with overseeing opioid-settlement funds and substance-abuse programs. Airport Energy: The Port Administration is advancing a proposed 25-megawatt solar farm and battery system at Pago Pago International Airport, targeted to begin operating by the end of 2027. Water Safety: AS-EPA’s water lab received U.S. EPA certification to test drinking water for microbiological contamination through 2029.

Public Funds: The House endorsed Senate resolutions seeking an independent prosecutor’s investigation into the administration’s handling of $15.6 million and a court ruling on the Legislature’s appropriation authority. The questioned spending includes $10.1 million in ARPA interest invested for airport projects, $5.3 million for payroll and $200,000 in opioid settlement funds. EU Tax List: American Samoa remains among eight jurisdictions on the EU’s non-cooperative tax list, even as Panama and Vietnam were removed and moved to a monitoring annex. Airport Energy: Port Administration is advancing a proposed 25-megawatt solar farm and battery system at Pago Pago International Airport, with operations targeted for late 2027. Retirement Fund: Senators approved a merged bill converting ASG’s debt to the Retirement Fund into a $31 million ASTCA loan while phasing down the government’s retirement contributions. Public Health: AS-EPA’s water laboratory earned full U.S. EPA certification for drinking-water testing, valid through 2029.

Public-Funds Scrutiny: The House joined the Senate in calling for an independent prosecutor to examine about $15.6 million in spending, including a $10.1 million ARPA-interest investment. The probe gained urgency after company representatives told senators they had not insured the investment, contradicting earlier administration testimony. Tax Status: The EU removed Panama and Vietnam from its tax blacklist but kept American Samoa among the eight jurisdictions still listed. Government: Lawmakers’ new offices in the Fono building have opened, ending years without offices after the old complex was demolished in 2017. Energy and Oversight: Port Administration is advancing a proposed 25-megawatt airport solar project with battery storage, targeted to operate by the end of 2027. Governor Pulaali‘i also dissolved the Comprehensive Substance Abuse Council and established a new council to oversee opioid-settlement funds and substance-abuse programs.

Cybersecurity: A reported attack on the CoCCA domain system also affected American Samoa websites, raising concerns about users being redirected to scam pages; the full local impact was not detailed. Tax Status: The EU removed Panama and Vietnam from its tax blacklist, but American Samoa remains among eight jurisdictions on the list. Public Funds: The House endorsed Senate resolutions calling for an independent prosecutor to investigate the administration’s use of about $15.6 million and seeking judicial review of the Legislature’s appropriation authority. Seabed Mining: A Marianas lawsuit will proceed without a separate hearing because it raises issues overlapping with American Samoa’s case; a hearing on the Samoa challenge is set for Oct. 30, ahead of a planned Nov. 19 lease sale. Fono: Lawmakers opened their new offices, ending a wait that began when the old building was demolished in 2017.

Fono: Lawmakers opened their long-awaited offices in the new Fono building after years without offices; the ceremony followed the close of the 39th Legislature’s session. Public Funds: The House endorsed Senate resolutions seeking an independent prosecutor and court review of the administration’s use of $15.6 million, including $10.1 million in ARPA interest. The scrutiny intensified after insurance-company representatives told senators they had issued no policy guaranteeing the investment. Environment: A federal judge will hear arguments Oct. 30 in a challenge to seabed-mining leases near American Samoa, with a sale proposed for Nov. 19. A related Marianas case will proceed without a separate hearing. Tax Status: The EU removed Panama and Vietnam from its tax blacklist but kept American Samoa, Guam, Palau and other jurisdictions on the list. Infrastructure: The AS-EPA water lab won U.S. EPA certification to test drinking water through 2029. Separately, the Port Administration is advancing a proposed 25-megawatt airport solar project with battery storage, targeting operation by the end of 2027.

Tax Status: The EU removed Panama and Vietnam from its tax blacklist but kept American Samoa among eight listed jurisdictions, citing outstanding concerns over tax cooperation. Public Funds Probe: The Senate approved resolutions seeking an independent prosecutor and judicial review of the administration’s handling of about $15.6 million, including $10.1 million in ARPA interest. The move follows testimony from insurers who said they never issued coverage for the investment, while the Insurance Commissioner said he knew nothing about it beforehand. Seabed Mining: A federal judge will hear American Samoa’s challenge to a planned seabed-mining lease sale on Oct. 30, ahead of the sale scheduled for Nov. 19; a related Marianas case will proceed without a separate hearing. Children’s Accounts: Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata says American Samoan children who are U.S. nationals may qualify for Trump Accounts if they have a Social Security number.

ASG Investment Probe: Senate testimony deepened questions about the government’s $10.1 million investment of ARPA interest funds: representatives of two companies said they had not insured the transaction, contradicting earlier administration statements. Senators also approved a resolution asking the attorney general to seek an independent prosecutor to examine the investment, payroll spending and opioid settlement funds. Retirement Fund: Senators merged bills converting ASG’s debt into a $31 million loan to ASTCA with a phased reduction in the government’s retirement contribution, starting at 8% on Oct. 1. Immigration Policy: A bill to pause for a year the immigration-law provision allowing exceptions to worker limits stalled in the House, leaving it unlikely to return before January. Airport Energy: Port Administration is advancing a 25-megawatt solar farm and battery project at Pago Pago International Airport, targeted to open by the end of 2027. Opioid Oversight: Governor Pula dissolved the Comprehensive Substance Abuse Council and replaced it with a body tasked with setting strategy and monitoring opioid settlement funds.

ASG Investment Inquiry: Representatives of two firms told senators they never insured the government’s $10.1 million investment, contradicting earlier administration testimony. Insurance Commissioner Peter Fuimaono also said he knew nothing of the deal before the inquiry. Fono Finance: Senators advanced a measure combining a $31 million loan to ASG’s Retirement Fund, to be repaid by ASTCA, with phased cuts to the government’s fund contributions. Seabed Mining: A proposed lease sale covering more than 31 million acres off American Samoa faces a federal lawsuit. The plaintiffs say regulators failed to properly assess risks to protected species and the effects of mining. Substance Policy: Governor Pulaali‘i Nikolao Pula dissolved the Comprehensive Substance Abuse Council and created a new council focused on opioids and substance use, with the governor and lieutenant governor as co-chairs. Immigration: A bill to pause for a year the special provision allowing exceptions to worker quotas stalled in the House, leaving the issue unresolved until lawmakers return in January.

ASG Investment Questions: Outside-company representatives told senators they had never issued insurance covering ASG’s $10.1 million investment of ARPA interest funds, contradicting earlier administration claims. The Insurance Commissioner said he had no prior knowledge of the deal; a public guide traces the transaction and outlines unanswered questions. Seabed Mining: A proposed federal lease sale covering more than 31 million acres off American Samoa is drawing criticism over local consent and environmental review. Former congressman Robert Underwood says the territory’s lack of federal voting power leaves its opposition with little influence. Retirement Fund: Senators approved a merged bill converting ASG’s $31 million retirement-fund debt into an ASTCA loan while phasing down the government’s retirement contributions. Election: Voter registration for the Nov. 3 midterms closed Oct. 5; voters will choose American Samoa’s congressional delegate and House members.

Supreme Court: American Samoa community groups joined briefs backing Prutehi Guahan as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear the Air Force’s challenge over open munitions disposal at Guam’s Tarague Beach. Retirement Fund and ASTCA: Senators merged proposals to convert ASG’s debt to the Retirement Fund into a $31 million ASTCA loan and temporarily reduce the government’s contribution rate, with the bill still to be considered. FY2027 Budget: Governor Pulaali’i signed the budget but vetoed several Fono-approved appropriations, including about $11.9 million in capital projects and funding for road and transportation work. Substance Abuse Policy: The governor dissolved the Comprehensive Substance Abuse Council and established a new council to guide opioid and substance-use programs and oversee settlement funds. ARPA Investment Inquiry: Insurance Commissioner Peter Fuimaono told senators he had no prior knowledge of ASG’s $10.1 million investment of ARPA interest funds and played no role in arranging it. Immigration Law: A House measure to suspend the immigration law’s Special Provision for a year stalled without a committee vote, leaving the issue unresolved until lawmakers return in January.

Tarague Beach Supreme Court Fight: Five briefs were filed ahead of U.S. Supreme Court arguments Oct. 7 in Dept. of the Air Force v. Prutehi Guahan, with support including states, congressional Democrats, and community groups from Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and others—pushing back on Air Force open detonation plans and whether required environmental review was done. Local Government & Courts: American Samoa’s Fono building is nearing its official opening after a close-out inspection by a Hawaii-based firm supplying furniture and workplace materials. Budget & Governance: Governor Pulaali’i signed the FY2027 budget but used line-item vetoes, cutting multiple appropriations; lawmakers also advanced a FY2027 budget bill that now reflects those changes. Retirement Fund Debt Deal: Senators merged bills to convert ASG’s Retirement Fund debt into a $31 million loan tied to ASTCA, while adjusting ASG contribution rates to the fund over coming years. Health & Social Services: The Governor dissolved the Comprehensive Substance Abuse Council and replaced it with an Opioid and Substance Abuse Council focused on opioid settlement funds and strategy. Energy Infrastructure: Port Administration is moving ahead with a 25MW solar plus battery storage project at Pago Pago International Airport, targeting operations by end of 2027. Media Freedom Pressure (Regional): Journalists in Samoa are demanding answers after reports say a journalist’s camera was removed and photos deleted during a police event. Voting Reminder: Election Office says Oct. 5 is the deadline to register for the Nov. 3, 2026 midterm election.