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Address Of Assistant Secretary Of The Interior For Insular Areas Anthony Babauta To The Twenty-Eighth
U.S. Virgin Island Legislature
November 19, 2009

President Louis Patrick Hill and honorable members of the Twenty-eighth Legislature - Thank you for you for the opportunity to address you and the people of the United States Virgin Islands. It is a privilege to be the first Assistant Secretary to appear before this body. As a son of one of your sister territories, I want to personally thank you as a Chamorro for the honor you bestowed on Peter Cepeda who lost his life here in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo. However unfortunate, it demonstrates both the graciousness and gratitude fellow islanders have for one another. more

U.S. Embassy In Micronesia Honors All U.S. Military Veterans

First Sergeant (U.S. Army-ret) Frank Semens salutes the American flag after laying a wreath.

Pohnpei, Micronesia (November 13, 2009) – On Wednesday, November 11, Veterans of Foreign Wars Day, the U.S. Embassy in Kolonia hosted ceremonies honoring all Micronesians and Americans who have served in the U.S. armed forces.

Attendees at the ceremony included FSM President Emanuel Mori, FSM Vice Speaker Frederico Primo, Pohnpei State Governor John Ehsa, Pohnpei State Legislature Speaker Nelson Pelep, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and other FSM and State Government Officials, as well as local veterans and their families, including family members of soldiers who perished in combat.  more

The Marshall Islands Inaugurates a New President

Speaker Alvin Jacklick, President Jurelang Zedkaia, U.S. Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Martha Campbell.  Photo courtesy of U.S. Embassy Majuro.

Washington, D.C. (November 3, 2009) – After two previously unsuccessful votes of no-confidence in the Marshall Islands Nitijela (Parliament), President Litokwa Tomeing was removed on October 21, 2009, as the Fourth President of the Marshall Islands after a third vote of no-confidence. The former President continues in the Nitijela as the Senator from Wotje Atoll until the end of his elected term.  more

U.S.Funded Election Observation Mission Presents Report On March Elections

H.E. President Mori accepts the final report from U.S. Department of State Senior Advisor Chris Camponovo (center) and East-West Center PIDP Deputy Director Dr. Jerry Finin (right).

On October 14th-19th, members of the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP) presented the East-West Center’s 2009 Election Observation Mission (EOM) report on the March 3rd National Congressional and Chuuk State Elections. The Mission was supported by the U.S. Department of State, on behalf of the APDP, under the leadership of Congressman Eni F. H. Faleomavaega of American Samoa, Chairman of the U.S. House of Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment.  more

Assistant Secretary Babauta Joins President Obama In Signing Ceremony For Asian Americans And Pacific Islander Americans

President Barack Obama signing the Executive Order restoring the White House Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (White House Photo) Executive Order: INCREASING PARTICIPATION OF ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS

WASHINGTON, D.C, (October 14, 2009) – In a ceremony today at The White House, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas Anthony M. Babauta joined President Barack Obama and other administration officials in an Executive Order signing ceremony for The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans.  more

President Obama's Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Arrives in American Samoa

Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Anthony M. Babauta joins FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Kenneth Tingman and U.S. Congressman from American Samoa Eni Faleomavaega for a briefing with Governor Togiola Tulafono.  (Pictured left to right: Babauta, Togiola, Tingman, Faleomavaega) Photo courtesy of “AmericanSamoa.gov”

Pago Pago, American Samoa (Thursday, October 1, 2009) - Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas Anthony M. Babauta arrived today in Pago Pago, American Samoa by U.S. military aircraft, which brought supplies to the earthquake and tsunami-stricken U.S. territory.

“I am deeply saddened to see how much damage the tsunami has caused,” said Mr. Babauta, “however I am heartened by the courageous people of American Samoa who have rallied around Governor Togiola Tulafono as first responders from FEMA, the U.S. military, HHS, National Park Service, the Red Cross and others have arrived and begun their initial assessments.”  more

President Issues Disaster Declaration for American Samoa,
Statement of Sympathy and Assistance for the Region
FEMA Launches Air Bridge to Ferry Supplies to American Samoa

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Barack Obama today issued the following statement regarding the tragic natural disasters that struck American Samoa, Western Samoa and other Pacific islands yesterday.  more

Anthony M. Babauta Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas

Address of the Honorable
Anthony M. Babauta
Assistant Secretary of the Interior
for Insular Areas
Before the 30th Guam Legislature
September 24, 2009

Madame Speaker Won Pat, Minority Leader Calvo, and Members of the Thirtieth Guam Legislature, thank you for your invitation to speak today.  As a son of Guam, I stand before you humbled and honored to return home to this island we all love.  Guam is my first travel destination in my new capacity as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas.  I welcome this opportunity to speak with you and the people of Guam.  more