Aumua Amata's 12 Pledges

1. In choosing my committee assignments, I will ask for those with the most direct legislative relevance to American Samoa; when offered the opportunity to chair a subcommittee, I will ask for one with direct legislative jurisdiction over issues concerning American Samoa;
2. I will appoint staff members who are qualified in their areas of expertise, who will have no personal agenda, who will be devoted to American Samoa and who can demonstrate an ability to work with all, regardless of partisan affiliation or professional differences;
3. I will not tolerate staff members who are rude, arrogant or intimidating;  I will insist on rebuilding congressional staff relationships on both sides of the aisle; my office will be proactive in reaching out to the people; we will never merely wait until constituents come to us;
4. At all times in official settings in Washington, I will wear clothing that reflects our Samoan culture and respects the Washington custom of business attire;
5. I always will work in a bipartisan fashion on issues concerning American Samoa;
6. I will concentrate my efforts in this order: first on improving the lives of the people of American Samoa; second on assisting my colleagues to improve the lives of Samoans residing in their districts; and third, whenever possible, to assist our neighbors in Samoa and elsewhere in our Pacific region;
7. In order to focus most effectively on American Samoa’s needs, I intend to concentrate my travel between Washington and American Samoa and to remain in Washington whenever Congress is in session;
8. I will devote time gained by not traveling to making new friends and establishing relationships with other Members of Congress in both parties to promote good will and substantially increase awareness of our islands’ needs;
9. In considering my position on national legislation impacting American Samoa, I will always weigh our rights against our responsibilities and the benefits against  burdens imposed upon the people;
10. I will devote my energies to fighting for the people of American Samoa and its leaders in Congress, not fighting against the American Samoa Government at home;
11. I will communicate regularly with the Governor and the Fono and on matters specific to the territory will offer legislation on such issues only after advance consultation with our leaders; except when extreme emergency requires, I will never attempt to circumvent the regular legislative process, which includes holding public hearings at which all stakeholders will be invited to have input;
12. I will never criticize our own country or its leaders while standing on foreign soil.