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Gov. Togiola in meetings in DC

(UTULEI) – Governor Togiola Tulafono, who has been in Washington DC since Monday, today recapped the series of meetings he has had since arrival in the nation’s capital.

So far, up today, Wednesday, Governor Togiola, has been in meetings with US Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Senator Edward Kennedy’s senior staff, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs Mr.Brian Kennedy, and received a briefing of the National Emergency Grants system. Governor Togiola was scheduled to meet with Congressman Faleomavaega Eni on tomorrow, Thursday morning.

In his meeting with Senator Inouye, Governor Togiola said the Good Senator from Hawaii, a friend of American Samoa known as “Fofogaosamoa” (The Voice of Samoa) continues to offer the Territory assistance and great advice.

“As always, Senator Inouye was very helpful and continues to assure us of his commitment to help us find appropriate solutions to the dilemma that we face. I have particularly requested of Senator Inouye to help push back the effective date of the 2010 minimum wage escalator to give us time to consider and react to the expected General Accounting Office report,” said Governor Togiola. “This will give us time to adequately adjust to the changing circumstances, as well as the direct and indirect consequences of the minimum wage increases.”

Governor Togiola said Senator Inouye was also concerned about the Call Centers issue that the Governor raised about the minimum wage hike getting in the way of the centers starting up.

“He was very concerned when I told him that we may not be able to establish the call centers because of the unfavorable minimum wage increase,” said Governor Togiola. “I have since explained further in a letter to him today and it included copies of correspondence received from call center proponents that explained their position regarding the business problems and the minimum wage issue.”

Governor Togiola said, with an itinerary change and time limitation in Washington DC, he expressed his sincere gratitude for the kind assistance of Senator Inouye, his Legislative Director Marie Blanco and staff for arranging appointments with Congressional offices and executive departments and coordinating meetings this week.

Governor Togiola had the opportunity to meet together with the senior staff of Senator Kennedy and Senator Inouye to discuss the Territory’s economic situation.

“They were very helpful in understanding the process that we have been thrown into, and we were able to receive assurances of their assistance in monitoring this situation, and help determine how best to assist us,” said Governor Togiola. “I have reiterated our request to push back the effective date of the 2010 minimum wage to allow us to prepare and adjust.”

In the meeting with Assistant Secretary of Labor for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs Mr. Brian Kennedy, the Labor staff gave a briefing to Governor Togiola on the National Emergency Grants system and the application.

“Assistant Secretary Kennedy offered assistance to us in the process. We will examine whether or not we are entitled to assistance and relief as a result of jobs lost because of the trade impact,” said Governor Togiola. “I also asked their assistance in helping us determine the extent of assistance for our already laid off workers from StarKist Samoa because of the minimum wage increases.”

One of the sensitive issues brought up by Governor Togiola to the Department of Labor is the fact that a great number of the workers are aliens, especially "permanent residents", and also alien parents of US nationals (children born in American Samoa while the parents were legally permitted to work).

“Mr. Kennedy and his Labor staff were also very interested in the impact of the flagging of foreign hull vessels, and their economic impact on developing fisheries in American Samoa, and their direct relationship to the loss of jobs in American Samoa, in addition to our minimum wage woes,” said Governor Togiola. “I discussed also my desire to utilize our ASCC and DOE to assist in re-training programs for displaced workers and they were very enthusiastic about it.”

Governor Togiola informed them of the directive to the local Department of Commerce to obtain the demographics of the work force in the canneries, especially Samoa Packing, and identifying all the specific levels of proficiency in the workforce so that it can be determined who can be placed somewhere else for re-employment, and what level of re-training they are interested in or otherwise require.

“Mr. Kennedy and his staff have offered technical assistance to us with the appropriate applications and I expressed my sincere gratitude and appreciation for their help,” said Governor Togiola. “I intend to make applications for several areas of assistance.”

Some of the things that Governor Togiola is looking into for assistance from the federal government are relief for the displaced workers as well as programs to try and attract industry back to American Samoa.

For the displaced workers, Governor Togiola said he will be asking for (1) Direct financial assistance to replace a percentage of their lost income, so the families and workers are able to take care of their families while they are looking for new jobs or while engaged in retraining programs.

“I expect to ask for such funding up to 12 months for "permanent residents" and parents of "US National" workers who are willing to go back to school and do well in their courses for new skills,” said Governor Togiola. “Of course as soon as the person is relocated to another job, this assistance will terminate. For alien workers who are not permanent residents or parents of US nationals, I will propose a 3 month transition for their return home.”

Governor Togiola said he will also be asking for (2) Funding for educational programs to retrain workers with new skills.

For the American Samoa Government, Governor Togiola said he will ask for (3) Funding to replace ASG revenue losses from lost wage taxes and corporate taxes when the plant closes.

“This relief is partly to prevent job losses in the government if our revenues are drastically reduced,” said Governor Togiola. “Otherwise, ASG can expect to layoff employees if there is not enough money to fund their positions.”

Governor Togiola said he had scheduled a meeting with Congressman Faleomavaega for Thursday morning.

“I advised the Delegate’s office on Monday of being in town and I inquired if there was anything that our congressman wished to discuss with me, that I was available and look forward to meeting him and they have scheduled our meeting for (tomorrow) Thursday morning,” said Governor Togiola.

On schedule also for Governor Togiola are meetings with the Department of Commerce to solicit assistance in finding ways to help develop new industry, assist the call center development, or carry on a cannery operation if possible.

Governor Togiola has written followed up letters to Senator Edward Kennedy and Congressman George Miller to update them on the Territory’s economic situation.

On Saturday, May 23rd, Governor Togiola has scheduled a meeting with principals of call centers in Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas to discuss the difficulties and challenges related to the call center developments since the change of circumstances with the minimum wages.

---americansamoa.gov---

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Gov. Togiola in meetings in DC