| Eni Faleomavaega | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from American Samoa's At-large district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Fofó Sunia |
| Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa | |
| In office January 3, 1985 – January 2, 1989 |
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| Governor | A. P. Lutali |
| Preceded by | Tufele Liamatua |
| Succeeded by | Galea'i Peni Poumele |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 15, 1943 Vailoatai Village, American Samoa |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Hinanui Bambridge Cave |
| Children | 5 |
| Residence | Pago Pago, American Samoa |
| Alma mater | BYU Hawaii BYU University of Houston University of California at Berkeley |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Religion | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega, Jr. (born August 15, 1943) is the non-voting Delegate to the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa's At-large congressional district.[1]
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Faleomavaega was born in Vailoatai Village but grew up on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. He graduated from Kahuku High School and attended Brigham Young University-Hawaii, from which he earned an associated degree. He then transferred to Brigham Young University's main campus in Utah and earned a bachelor's degree in political science. Faleomavaega attended the University of Houston Law Center and the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Juris Doctor and a Master of Law degree. He served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1969, and as an officer in the United States Army Reserve from 1982 to 1989. Faleomavega served in the Vietnam War and left the military with the rank of captain. He and his wife are active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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 worked as Deputy Attorney General for the territory of American Samoa between 1981 and 1984.
Faleomavaega entered elective politics when he ran alongside A.P. Lutali in the 1985 gubernatorial race. He 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.[2]
Faleomavaega was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives in 1988, serving from January 3, 1989 to the present.[2]
As a delegate, Faleomavaega has worked to receive more federal funding for his home territory, particular for health care and other essential services. He has opposed free trade deals involving meats and seafood, as nearly one-third of his territory's population is involved in the tuna industry. He has proposed legislation that would allow residents of US territories to vote in presidential elections if they are active duty members of the military.[3]
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Fofó Iosefa Fiti Sunia |
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from American Samoa January 3, 1989 – present |
Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Bob Turner Most Junior Representative of the U.S. House |
United States order of precedence 112th Congress (2011-2013) |
Succeeded by Eleanor Holmes Norton U.S. House Delegate from District of Columbia |
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