Amata Coleman Radewagen, commonly called Aumua Amata (The title “Aumua” is a matai (chief) title) by her constituents, has represented American Samoa in the United States House of Representatives since 2015. This profile is an overview of Aumua Amata’s background, accomplishments, and influence.
Early life
Radewagon was born on December 29, 1947, in Pago Pago, American Samoa. She pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Guam. After her graduation in 1975, she took classes at George Mason University and Loyola Marymount University.
Aumua Amata campaigning for delegate in 2024. Image credit: Aumua Amata for Delegate Campaign
Political career
Under the Bush administration, Radewagen worked as a democracy trainer for the International Republican Institute. She assisted in training programs to build democratic institutions in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Morocco, and Iraq. Before she was a member of Congress, Radewagen served on the staff of Congressman Philip Crane (R) of Illinois from 1997 to 1999. Later, she was on the staff of Congressman JC Watts Jr. (R) of Oklahoma from 1999 to 2003.
As delegate, Ragewagen is the Vice Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and Chairman of the Women Veterans Task Force. Within the Committee, she serves on the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. In addition, she is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee as the Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific and a member of the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations. She also works on the House Natural Resources Committee in the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fishing and the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. Recently, Radewagon co-sponsored the Standards for Understanding Source and Habitat Identification Act (HR 3706).
Ideology
Ragewagen identifies with the Republican Party on a national level. However, she has sponsored bipartisan legislation during her time in Congress. According to the Bipartisan Index by Georgetown University, in which they “regard any score above a zero as a good score,” Radewagen scored 1.26 in 2015, 1.02 in 2016, and 1.38 in 2017. She is commonly regarded as a legislator who values bipartisanship. Regarding coronavirus economic relief in 2020, Ragewagen stated that “a bipartisan bill is the only possible way forward.”
Major accomplishments
In 2002, Radewagen was recognized by the National Association of Professional Asian American Women as Outstanding Woman of the Year. She became the first, and thus far only, Pacific Islander to receive this honor. During her time in Congress, she has pushed legislation that has been crucial to the economic growth of American Samoa. In 2006, Radewagen passed the American Samoa Economic Development credit as part of the Tax Relief and Healthcare Act. This stabilized employment for nearly 3000 workers in the American Samoa tuna industry workforce.
Future prospects
Radewagen is running for re-election as delegate to the U House of Representatives in the 2026 election. She officially filed her statement of candidacy in December 2024. Regarding her re-election, she stated that she is “humbly asking for your vote and support, and I pledge to run and work like it’s my first time.”
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Amber Jiao is a student at Poolesville High School in Poolesville, Maryland. She is passionate about public policy and social justice. In her free time, Amber enjoys rock climbing, visiting art museums, and exploring the city with her friends. At Pasquines, she is a Political Affairs Intern Correspondent.
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