05/17/2025 10:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

              SR   3-SAMOAN SERVICE & VOTING RIGHTS                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:06:17 AM                                                                                                                   
CHAIR KAWASAKI  announced the  consideration of SENATE  RESOLUTION                                                              
NO.  3  Urging  the  United  States  Congress  to  grant  American                                                              
Samoans  the ability  to  serve as  commissioned  officers in  the                                                              
uniformed services of  the United States and the right  to vote in                                                              
federal elections.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:06:30 AM                                                                                                                   
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  summarized  SR 3. He  stated American  Samoa                                                              
is the  only U.S.  territory where  residents are U.S.  nationals,                                                              
not citizens.  The people  of American  Samoa people serve  in the                                                              
military at  high rates and  pay taxes but  can't vote  in federal                                                              
elections or serve  as commissioned officers. He  stated that this                                                              
resolution urges Congress to grant them those rights.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:07:55 AM                                                                                                                   
SENATOR BJORKMAN  asked why  Samoans are  classified as  nationals                                                              
rather  than  citizens  and whether  the  government  of  American                                                              
Samoa was asked their perspective.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:08:35 AM                                                                                                                   
MAXINE  LABERGE,  Researcher, Alaska  State  Legislature,  Juneau,                                                              
Alaska,  answered questions  about  SR 3  and  said America  Samoa                                                              
does have representation  in congress but they would  like to have                                                              
voting rights.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:09:13 AM                                                                                                                   
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  stated  that  there  is  broad  support  in                                                              
American  Samoa  for voting  rights  and serving  as  commissioned                                                              
officers.  However, there's  some  debate over  whether they  want                                                              
U.S. citizenship instead of national status.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:09:57 AM                                                                                                                   
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:10:00 AM                                                                                                                   
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  moved  to  report  SR  3,  work  order  34-                                                              
LS0963\N,  from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and                                                              
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:10:18 AM                                                                                                                   
CHAIR KAWASAKI found  no objection and SR 3 was  reported from the                                                              
Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.