Amata Reports On Bipartisan Briefing With Senior National Defense Leaders

Press Release

Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata took part Friday in a thorough national security briefing for Members of Congress regarding Afghanistan by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Members of Congress questioned these leaders about stepping up the massive evacuation effort in Afghanistan, and the urgency to provide a way out for thousands of Americans and potentially tens of thousands of Afghan allies. The Armed Forces leadership reported on the efforts underway already bolstering the transportation and security, and ongoing plans and progress.

"I can't specifically know that any of our own from American Samoa are in Kabul, however, every time I've visited Central Command bases and the Middle East, I've always found American Samoans there, either supporting efforts in Iraq or Afghanistan or returning from those deployments," said Congresswoman Amata. "We pray for any of them that are likely to be involved in some way, as we might learn later, and have hopes that the situation around Kabul won't escalate further. Our nation must do all that is necessary to ensure no Americans or close allies are left behind."

In the briefing, national security leaders assured Congress they were fully committed to getting Americans out, and while Members of Congress expressed urgency and questioned the planning so far, most of the briefing described how the effort has surged during the week.

In 24 hours, they reported doubling the number of C-17s flying in and out of Kabul. The military leadership reported nearly 6,000 U.S. troops on the ground, supported from the air by the Navy and Air Force.

They also listed more than ten countries many of them in the region which are actively accepting displaced people from Afghanistan, and giving them aid upon arrival. The briefing detailed to Congress the biometrics being done at transit points, communication efforts with the Taliban, the massive refueling operation, and other extensive logistics.

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