Aumua Amata Radewagen

Aumua Amata Radewagen, a Republican, has served as the Delegate for American Samoa's at-large congressional district since 2015. Born in Washington, D.C., and the daughter of Peter Tali Coleman, the first popularly elected governor of American Samoa, she was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014. She is the first woman and first Republican to represent the territory in Congress. Radewagen earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Guam in 1975 and has received honorary doctorates from both the University of Guam and the Virginia University of Science and Technology. Prior to her election, Radewagen had a long career in public service and political advocacy. She served as a congressional staffer for several members of Congress, including Representatives Phil Crane and J.C. Watts, and worked for the House Republican Conference. She was twice appointed as a White House Commissioner for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, first by President George W. Bush in 2001 and later by President Donald Trump in 2019. Her career also includes international experience, having participated in democratic development missions in countries such as Kazakhstan, Cambodia, and Morocco with the International Republican Institute. In Congress, Radewagen is known for her high level of bipartisan cooperation and her focus on territorial issues. She serves on several key committees, including the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she has held leadership roles, and the House Committee on Natural Resources. Her work often emphasizes securing federal funding for American Samoa's infrastructure, healthcare, and economic development, while advocating for the interests of Pacific Islanders on the national stage.

Radewagen's policy platform is heavily focused on the specific needs of American Samoa and the broader Pacific region. On healthcare, she is a vocal advocate for equitable treatment of U.S. territories in federal programs like Medicaid and Medicare, co-sponsoring the Territories Health Equity Act. She has consistently supported increasing federal grants for local health centers and child immunization programs. In terms of the economy, she prioritizes the American Samoa Economic Development Credit to maintain local jobs and commercial activity, and she has strongly supported small business assistance programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). As a senior member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, she emphasizes improving healthcare access and benefits for veterans living in the territories. Regarding the environment and natural resources, she focuses on protecting local fisheries and supporting the commercial fishing industry, which is a cornerstone of the American Samoan economy. In foreign policy, her positions center on the Indo-Pacific region, where she advocates for strong diplomatic and security ties to counter regional influences. Radewagen is frequently ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of the House, often collaborating across the aisle on legislation related to small business, veterans, and territorial rights.