Removal of Restriction on Amendments to or Modifications of the Constitution of American Samoa

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6062, which is sponsored by our colleague from American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen).

This bill would eliminate the requirement for Congress to approve changes to the American Samoan Constitution in addition to the Secretary of the Interior.

When American Samoa drafted and ratified its constitution in the 1960s, only the Secretary of the Interior was empowered to ratify amendments to it. However, in 1983, legislation was enacted to add Congress, in addition to the Secretary of the Interior, to the approval process for making changes to the American Samoan Constitution.

American Samoan leaders at the time objected to this additional step and urged returning to the prior process of needing only the Secretary to approve changes to their constitution.

In particular, American Samoan leaders feared that congressional involvement could threaten their current political status, which incorporates their traditional ``matai,'' ``chief'' and communal land ownership system.

This legislation removes the duplicative, unnecessary step of requiring congressional approval for American Samoa to amend its own constitution. It is a commonsense bill that promotes democracy and self-determination.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I, too, have no further requests for time, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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