Finding the American connection
p. 51 · Read in the full issue
AMERICAN SAMOA congressional delegate, Eni Faleomavaega, intends to lobby to take over the chairmanship of the powerful East Asia and Pacific Affairs Sub-committee.
Faleomavaega, who is presently vice chairman of the sub-committee, told PIM he is “very interested” in assuming the influential job.
The position becomes vacant in unfor tunate circumstances following the fail ure of Stephen Solarz to win re-election to Congress.
Solarz lost his battle for the Demo cratic Party’s nomination for a new seat in New York after the boundaries of his old seat were redrawn.
In the precocious world of politics, Solarz, a Jewish New Yorker, suddenly found himself trying to woo predominantly Hispanic voters.
He had also suffered in the opinion polls when it was revealed he had been one of the worst offenders in the House of Representatives banking scandal and had bounced numerous cheques.
But ifhis defeat meant little to New York’s Hispanic voters, many South Pacific officials are stunned by the prospect of losing this veteran’s influence in Congress where he had been an unusually knowledgeable and tireless advocate of Pacific issues.
“It is a great loss to our region,” said Faleomavaega.
Under Solarz’s stewardship, the Congress launched its first comprehensive review of US policy towards the South Pacific in 1989.
The ensuing report, Problems in Paradise: United States Interests in the South Pacific, was a wake-up call to Americans who still viewed the region as a big, sleepy lake.
It changed US policy from one of benign neglect to more active engagement and remains the basis not only for setting policy priorities in Congress but in the State Department, as well.
Faleomavaega worked closely with Solarz on the report which he cites as one of the sub-committee’s most outstanding achievements.
While some congressional advocates believe the American Samoan delegate has “a very good chance” of succeeding Solarz, he remains cautious.
“There are more senior members than me and it is likely to go to them.”
The most often mentioned is Californian congressman Tom Lantos.
But Falaeomovaega likes “to think that I have a fighting chance” because of the uncertainty of the elections in November.
Solarz may not be the only casualty in this volatile year in American politics.
And, among those more senior subcommittee members who do return to Congress, there are signs some might prefer to move onto other committees with a more domestic focus.
While this may favour Faleomavaega’s chances, some South Pacific officials view such diminishing interest in
foreign affairs in Washington with alarm.
For instance, congressmen were so concerned about being seen to be spending too much time on peripheral international issue, that not enough of them were willing to become full-time members of the Foreign Affairs Committee which was once among the most pres tigious.
The committee was forced to appoint associate members instead.
Some South Pacific officials also expressed concern about Faleomovaega’s status as a delegate.
Although he has voting rights on committees and in party caucuses, he only has speaking rights on the floor of the House.
Thus, he would not have the same
ability to rally votes as Solarz.
“It is going to be difficult to maintain the same degree of presence as Solarz,” said one official.
“It is difficult to see how he could project our interests in the same way.”
As economic issues jump to the top of everyone’s agendas, the South Pacific could sink back into relative obscurity among congressmen when compared to the glittering trade trophies in Asia.
But Faleomavaega’s supporters point out that as chairman, he could ensure South Pacific issues would remain on the frontline.
The American Samoan delegate is especially optimistic about Washington’s interest in the region if Democrat Bill Clinton is elected president.
At a recent meeting with Clinton, along with other leaders of the Asian-Pacific community, Faleomavaega was im pressed by the Democrat candidate’s knowledge of the region.
Clinton has spent more time in the Asia-Pacific region than Europe and “seemed quite familiar with our situation,”
Faleomavaege said.
“His closest associate in the National Governors’ Confer ence is the current chairman, Governor Waihee of Hawaii.
He is a close friend of Bill Clinton’s.
“Clinton wants to deal more directly with Japan and in a constructive way. And he definitely wants to be involved in the South Pacific,” he said.
Faleomavaega points out that first, he also has to win re election on November 3.
The two-term delegate is facing three Republican opponents, “They’re ganging up on me,” he said.
If he comes back, and many believe he probably will, he says his main priorities will include implementing the rest of the recommendations in the Solarz report; —pushing Pacific environmental concerns such as ocean
waste dumping;
and lobbying for France and the United States to become members of the South Pacific Forum.