Eni Faleomavaega
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 by | Fofó Sunia |
Succeeded by | Amata Coleman Radewagen |
3rd Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa | |
In office January 3, 1985 – January 2, 1989 | |
Governor | A. P. Lutali |
Preceded by | Tufele Liamatua |
Succeeded by | Galea'i Peni Poumele |
Personal details | |
Born |
Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega Jr. August 15, 1943 Vailoatai, American Samoa, U.S. |
Died |
February 22, 2017 73) Provo, Utah, U.S. | (aged
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Hinanui Bambridge Cave |
Children | 5 |
Education |
Brigham Young University, Hawaii Brigham Young University, Utah (BA) University of Houston (JD) University of California, Berkeley (LLM) |
Awards | Army Commendation Medal |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch |
United States Army • United States Army Reserve |
Years of service |
1966–1969 (Active) 1982–1990 (Reserve) |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega Jr. (/ˈɛniː fəˌleɪ.oʊmɑːvəˈɛŋɡə/; August 15, 1943 – February 22, 2017) was an American Samoan politician who served as the territory's lieutenant governor and congressional delegate.[1][2]
Biography
Personal life
Faleomavaega was born in Vailoatai Village, American Samoa, but he grew up in Oahu, Hawaii. He graduated from Kahuku High School and attended Brigham Young University-Hawaii, where he earned his associate degree. He then transferred to Brigham Young University's main campus in Utah and earned a bachelor's degree in political science. He attended the University of Houston Law Center and the UC-Berkeley, earning his Juris Doctor and Master of Law degrees. He served in the United States Army from 1966–69, and as an officer in the United States Army Reserve from 1982 to 1989. He served in the Vietnam War and left the military with the rank of captain. He and his wife were active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[3]
Faleomavaega suffered from complications that he said are from his exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.[4][5] This may have contributed to his 2014 election defeat.[4][5]
Faleomavaega died at the age of 73 on Wednesday, February 22, 2017. The cause was not specified. He was survived by his wife, 5 children, and 10 grandchildren.[6]
Early political career
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.
Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
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 1985–89. In 1987, he participated in an event that followed traditional Polynesian life experiences by sailing from Tahiti to Hawaii in a canoe.[7]
Congressional career
Faleomavaega was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives in 1988, serving from January 3, 1989 until January 2015.[7] As a delegate, he has worked to receive more federal funding for his home territory, particularly 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 proposed legislation that would allow residents of US territories to vote in presidential elections if they are active duty members of the military.[8] Faleomavaega also participated in a boycott of 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
Faleomavaega was a member of the following committees in the House of Representatives:
Caucuses
Support for Sri Lanka's war against LTTE terrorists
Faleomavaega has said that it is more opportune if the United States could refrain from interfering in internal affairs of Sri Lanka. 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.[9]
Support for American Samoa's independence
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.[10][11]
Support for Bahrain's monarchy
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.[12] He has taken various paid trips to Bahrain to meet with that country's rulers.[13]
Legacy
VA Clinic
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."[14]
The bill was sponsored by Delegate Amata Coleman Radewagen, Faleomavaega's successor as representative from American Samoa, and co-sponsored by five others.[15]
See also
- List of Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa
- List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress
References
- ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/eni-faleomavaega-who-served-13-terms-as-delegate-from-american-samoa-dies-at-73/2017/02/23/9dc7aa42-f9df-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_story.html
- ↑ American Samoa Congressional Map He is the father-in-law of Cincinnati Bengals' football player Fui Vakapuna
- ↑ "Rep. Eni Faleomavaega | 17 Mormons in Congress in 2013". Deseret News. 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- 1 2 Fili Sagapolutele (November 9, 2014). "1st Woman Elected as American Samoa Delegate". Associated Press. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
- 1 2 Cama, Timothy (November 5, 2014) - "American Samoa Delegate Loses Seat". The Hill. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/23/us/politics/eni-faleomavaega-american-samoas-longest-serving-congressman-dies-at-73.html?_r=0
- 1 2 "Biography of Eni Faleomavaega". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ↑ "Eni Faleomavaega, United States Congress". House.gov. 1943-08-15. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
- ↑ "Double Standards in US Foreign Policy Questioned". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- ↑ "American Samoa must consider independence - congressman | Pacific Beat | ABC Radio Australia". Radioaustralia.net.au. 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- ↑ "Call for independence discussion for American Samoa | ABC Radio Australia". Radioaustralia.net.au. 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- ↑ Elliot, Justin (April 2, 2012). "Meet Bahrain's Best Friend in Congress". ProPublica.
- ↑ Elliot, Justin (April 11, 2012). "Law Shrouds Details of Congressional Trips Abroad". ProPublica.
- ↑ "H.R. 1362 Text - 115th Congress (2017-2018)". US Congress. April 5, 2017.
- ↑ "Territory’s VA clinic now officially named after Faleomavaega Eni Fa’aua’a Hunkin | Samoa News". samoanews.com. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
External links
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- House Democrats Profile
- Appearances on C-SPAN
U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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Preceded by Fofó Sunia |
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from American Samoa 1989–2015 |
Succeeded by Amata Coleman Radewagen |