Eni Faleomavaega

Eni Faleomavaega
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from American Samoa's At-large district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1989
Preceded by	Fofó Sunia
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	August 15, 1943 (1943-08-15) 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.

Biography

Personal life

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.

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 to 1989.

In 1987, he participated in an event that followed traditional Polynesian life experiences by sailing from Tahiti to Hawaii in a canoe.

Congressional career

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 to the present.

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.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
  • Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs

Caucuses

• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

See also

• List of Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa

External links

• Eni Faleomavaega Official U.S. House website

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• House Democrats Profile

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 Suzanne Bonamici 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