Amata Welcomes House Passage of Government Funding Extension, and Resolution Honoring Charlie Kirk

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is welcoming House passage of a government funding extension bill that would keep the federal government open during ongoing work on the appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026. The short-term Continuing Resolution (C.R.), led by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole of Oklahoma, would allow time for ongoing negotiations by funding extending government funding through Nov. 21^st of this year.

"In American Samoa, we rely on federal support, and preventing a government shutdown is important for us and for the whole country," said Congresswoman Amata. "I appreciate Chairman Cole, who is a good friend, for his leadership in having now passed all 12 regular appropriations bills through the Committee he leads, which is known as regular order, but also for this week's effort to protect us all from a shutdown. As always, I will keep our people informed."

The Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, H.R. 5371, would prevent a government shutdown following September 30^th, which is when the fiscal year ends, but Senate action is required.

Chairman Cole, in his floor remarks, called for "good faith negotiations" and avoiding a "needless shutdown," emphasizing that the timetable of the C.R. is a concession to the Senate, as key Senators' public remarks had called for a November end date, while the Trump administration had encouraged a C.R. through January. "At the beginning of this process, I was asked to produce a clean bill for a limited period of time," the Chairman noted.

Bipartisan House Resolution Honors Charlie Kirk

The U.S. House of Representatives adopted a Resolution honoring Charlie Kirk's legacy and life, while condemning political violence. H. Res. 719passed Friday by a vote of 310-58, with the support of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

The Resolution highlighted Charlie Kirk's life as a dedicated husband and father, who "boldly lived out his faith with conviction, courage, and compassion." At age 18, he founded a student movement to "promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government," and that his "commitment to civil discussion and debate stood as a model for young Americans across the political spectrum."

Condemning the heinous act of violence, the House states, "such acts of politically motivated violence are antithetical to the principles of a free republic, in which differences of opinion are to be debated-not silenced-with civility, reason, and mutual respect."

"The tragic loss of Charlie Kirk must not be allowed to deepen the divides in our Nation, but instead serve as a turning point to recommit ourselves to better angels, and to the timeless American principles of liberty governed by truth and the virtues of peaceful dialogue," the Resolution states, continuing, "Charlie Kirk would not have us respond to his death with despair, but rather with renewed purpose-to speak truth with courage, to stand firm in faith, to seek unity while standing firm in principle, and to serve as living reminders of the values he championed: faith, family, and freedom."

The closing line of the Resolution "calls upon all Americans-regardless of race, party affiliation, or creed-to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans."

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