Eni Faleomavaega

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Eni Faleomavaega
Delegate to the
U.S. House of Representatives
from American Samoa's at-large district
In office
January 3, 1989 – January 3, 2015
Preceded byFofó Sunia
Succeeded byAmata Coleman Radewagen
3rd Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
In office
January 3, 1985 – January 2, 1989
GovernorA. P. Lutali
Preceded byTufele Liamatua
Succeeded byGalea'i Peni Poumele
Personal details
BornEni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega Jr.
(1943-08-15)August 15, 1943
Vailoatai, American Samoa
DiedFebruary 22, 2017(2017-02-22) (aged 73)
Provo, Utah, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseHinanui Bambridge Cave
Children5
EducationBYU–Hawaii(AA)
BYU(BA)
University of Houston(JD)
UC Berkeley(LLM)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch
Years of service1966–1969 (Active)
1982–1990 (Reserve)
Rank Captain
Unit100th Battalion,
442nd Infantry Regiment
ConflictVietnam War
AwardsCommendation Medal
Eni Faleomavaega's voice
Faleomavaega speaks on the
United States-Hong Kong Policy Act
Recorded August 11, 1992

Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega Jr. (/ˈɛniː fəˌleɪ.oʊmɑːvəˈɛŋɡə/ EH-nee fə-LAY-oh-mah-və-ENG-gə; August 15, 1943 – February 22, 2017) was an American Samoan politician and attorney who served as the territory's third lieutenant governor from 1985 to 1989 and non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives from 1989 to 2015.[1][2] As a delegate, Faleomavaega served in committees and spoke on the House floor; however, he was not permitted to vote on the final passage of any legislation. He was the father-in-law of former professional American football fullback Fui Vakapuna.

Throughout his career, Faleomavaega was an advocate for greater autonomy and self-determination for American Samoa. He worked towards achieving a status of free association with the United States, similar to the relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand, to address what he referred to as "colonial abuse" in the territory. Additionally, he sought to diversify American Samoa's economy to reduce its dependency on federal support. One of his legislative achievements included securing $4 million annually for scholarships enabling American Samoan students to attend colleges and universities in the United States.[3]

Personal life

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Eni Faleomavaega's parents were Eni and Taualai Faaua’ā Hunkin. His father served as a member of the Fitafita Guard and later as a communications specialist for the U.S. Navy, a role that led the family to reside on Swains Island. Faleomavaega spent his early years on the islands of Tutuila and Swains. Following the U.S. Navy's withdrawal from American Samoa in 1951, the family relocated to Lāʻie, Hawaii.[4]

In 1995, he authored Navigating the Future: A Samoan Perspective in U.S.-Pacific Relations, a book examining American Samoa’s political and social framework. In 1987, he participated in a significant cultural journey aboard the Hokule’a, a Polynesian voyaging canoe, sailing from Tahiti to Hawai’i.[4]

The title "Faleomavaega" was conferred upon him by his Faiivae family in Leone. He married Hinanui Bambridge Cave of Papeete, French Polynesia, and they had five children.[4]

Early life, education, and military service

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Faleomavaega was born in Vailoatai, American Samoa and grew up in Oahu, Hawaii. He graduated from Kahuku High School and initially attended Church College of Hawaii (now Brigham Young University–Hawaii), where he completed his associate's degree. He then transferred to Brigham Young University's main campus in Utah and earned a B.A. in political science and history in 1966. He received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 1972 and LL.M. from the UC Berkeley School of Law in 1973.

He served as an enlistee in the United States Army from 1966 to 1969, and as an officer in the United States Army Reserve from 1982 to 1989. He completed a tour in the Vietnam War[5] and left the military with the rank of captain following his second term of service. He and his wife were active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[6]

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Faleomavaega served as the administrative assistant to American Samoa Delegate A. U. Fuimaono from 1973 to 1975 and as staff counsel for the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs from 1975 to 1981. He served as the Deputy Attorney General of American Samoa from 1981 to 1984.[7]

Political career

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Faleomavaega was a candidate in the inaugural election for American Samoa’s Delegate to the U.S. Congress in 1978.[4] He ran alongside A. P. Lutali in the 1985 gubernatorial race, and served as Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa from 1985 to 1989. In 1987, he participated in an event that followed traditional Polynesian life experiences by sailing from Tahiti to Hawaii in a canoe.[8] In 1988, he was elected as the Delegate to the U.S. Congress, a position he held through subsequent elections.[4]

Congressional delegate

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Faleomavaega and former president of the Marshall Islands Kessai Note.
Faleomavaega, a superdelegate, announces the distribution of American Samoa's delegate votes as part of the roll call of the states during the third day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

Faleomavaega was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives in 1988, serving from January 3, 1989 until January 2015.[8] As a delegate, he worked to receive more federal funding for his home territory, particularly for health care and other essential services. He opposed free trade deals involving meats and seafood, as nearly one-third of American Samoa's population is involved in the tuna industry. He proposed legislation that would allow residents of US territories to vote in presidential elections if they are active duty members of the military.[9] Faleomavaega also participated in a boycott of French president Jacques Chirac, who made a speech to a joint session of the U.S. Congress in 1996, due to French nuclear testing in the Pacific.

Committee assignments

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Faleomavaega was a member of the following committees in the House of Representatives:

Caucuses

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Support for the Sri Lankan civil war

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Faleomavaega has said that it is more opportune if the United States could refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, especially in regards to the country's civil war against the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. He took the initiative of briefing members of the Sub Committee on Asia and the Pacific of the US House of Representatives in this respect.[10]

Support for American Samoa's independence

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In 2012, both Faleomavaega and Togiola Tulafono, American Samoa's Governor, called for the populace to consider a move towards autonomy if not independence, to a mixed response.[11][12]

Support for Bahrain's monarchy

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Faleomavaega was known for his vocal support of Bahrain's monarchy during the Bahraini uprising. One of Faleomavaega's top campaign donors, William Nixon, is a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist whose firm, Policy Impact Communications, founded the pro-monarchy Bahrain American Council.[13] Faleomavaega has taken various paid trips to Bahrain to meet with the country's rulers.[14]

Legacy

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VA Clinic

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On March 31, 2017, President Donald Trump signed H.R. 1362 into law. H.R. 1362 names the VA clinic in Pago Pago, American Samoa, the "Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin VA Clinic."[15] The bill was sponsored by Delegate Amata Coleman Radewagen, Faleomavaega's successor as representative from American Samoa, and co-sponsored by five others.[16]

Death

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Faleomavaega suffered from complications that he said are from his exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.[17][18] Faleomavaega's declining health was speculated to have contributed to his 2014 electoral defeat.[17][18]

Faleomavaega died at the age of 73 on February 22, 2017. The cause of death was not specified. He was survived by his wife, 5 children, and 10 grandchildren.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Eni Faleomavaega, who served 13 terms as delegate from American Samoa, dies at 73". Washington Post.
  2. ^ American Samoa Congressional Map Archived 2006-01-26 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Craig, Robert D. (2011). Historical Dictionary of Polynesia. Scarecrow Press. Page 86. ISBN 9780810867727.
  4. ^ a b c d e Sunia, Fofō Iosefa Fiti (2001). Puputoa: Host of Heroes – A record of the history makers in the First Century of American Samoa, 1900–2000. Suva, Fiji: Oceania Printers. Pages 31–32. ISBN 9829036022.
  5. ^ "Eni Faleomavaega, who served 13 terms as delegate from American Samoa, dies at 73". The Washington Post.
  6. ^ "Rep. Eni Faleomavaega". Deseret News. November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on November 17, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  7. ^ Fili Sagapolutele (February 24, 2017). "Longtime delegate for American Samoa". Washington Post – via EBSCOHost.
  8. ^ a b "Biography of Eni Faleomavaega". U.S. Congress. Archived from the original on May 5, 2008. Retrieved May 9, 2008.
  9. ^ "Eni Faleomavaega, United States Congress". House.gov. August 15, 1943. Archived from the original on August 10, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  10. ^ "Double Standards in US Foreign Policy Questioned". YouTube. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  11. ^ "American Samoa must consider independence – congressman | Pacific Beat". ABC Radio Australia. May 18, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  12. ^ "Call for independence discussion for American Samoa". ABC Radio Australia. May 18, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  13. ^ Elliot, Justin (April 2, 2012). "Meet Bahrain's Best Friend in Congress". ProPublica.
  14. ^ Elliot, Justin (April 11, 2012). "Law Shrouds Details of Congressional Trips Abroad". ProPublica.
  15. ^ "H.R. 1362 Text – 115th Congress (2017–2018)". US Congress. April 5, 2017.
  16. ^ "Territory's VA clinic now officially named after Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin". Samoa News. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  17. ^ a b Fili Sagapolutele (November 9, 2014). "1st Woman Elected as American Samoa Delegate". Associated Press. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  18. ^ a b Cama, Timothy (November 5, 2014). "American Samoa Delegate Loses Seat". The Hill. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  19. ^ "Eni Faleomavaega, 73, American Samoa's Long-Serving Delegate to Congress, Dies". The New York Times. February 24, 2017.
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