Contact: Monique Clendinen Watson at (202) 226-7973 or Monique.clendinen@mail.house.gov
Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen went to the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday to express her condolences and that of the people of the Virgin Islands to the people of American Samoa who suffered loss of life and devastation from Tuesday’s earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
“My heart and that of all Virgin Islanders go out with sympathy to those that have lost loved ones as a result of yesterday’s tragedy,” Congresswoman Christensen said. “As a Congresswoman from a community of islands that are also vulnerable to tropical disasters and as the former chair of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, I am well aware of the toll that it can take on people, on infrastructure, on time and resources, but most especially on individuals and families,” she said.
“Having visited American Samoa on several occasions and Western Samoa once, I know of the many struggles faced by the people there, but I also know of their close family and community ties, their strength of spirit and most importantly their faith,” Congresswoman Christensen said.
Congresswoman Christensen extended her support to her colleague and friend Congressman Eni Faleomaevega as the country makes the necessary arrangements to mobilize and deploy urgently needed resources.
