Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen is a Delegate representing American Samoa in the United States Congress. Born on December 29, 1947, in Washington, D.C., she attended Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii, and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guam in 1975. Radewagen pursued further education at institutions such as George Mason University and Loyola Marymount University.
Before her congressional tenure, Aumua Radewagen gained extensive experience in journalism and public service. She worked as a staff member for several Republican representatives, including Philip Crane of Illinois and J.C. Watts of Oklahoma. Despite several attempts between 1994 and 2012 to secure a congressional seat, she was successfully elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress in 2015, and she has continued to serve through subsequent terms.
In Congress, Radewagen has been actively involved in various legislative efforts and holds membership on key committees. She has sponsored or co-sponsored numerous bills focusing primarily on veterans' affairs and provisions pertinent to the territories.
Among her significant legislative efforts, Aumua Radewagen has co-sponsored notable bills aimed at enhancing support for veterans. For example, the Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025 (HB1578), which aims to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides clear guidance and assistance for veterans submitting claims, reflects her commitment to improving veterans' access to benefits. The bill passed out of subcommittee and is being considered for further action.
Another bill of interest is the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act (SAVES Act) (HB2605), which aims to create grants for nonprofit organizations to provide service dogs to veterans with disabilities, enhancing their quality of life. This initiative underscores her focus on veterans' mental health and well-being.
Radewagen's legislative priorities also include support for territories like Guam and Puerto Rico. She supports the Supplemental Security Income Equality Act (HB256), which seeks to extend federal SSI benefits to U.S. territories, aiming to address long-standing inequalities in federal assistance.
Politically, Aumua Radewagen's sponsorship of bills largely reflects traditional conservative values, with an emphasis on supporting veterans, providing assistance for vulnerable populations, and ensuring equitable treatment of U.S. territories. Her alignment with Republican initiatives is evident in her co-sponsorship of the Military and Educational Data Integration Act (HB1573), which seeks to integrate military and educational data to better support service members and their families.
Aumua Radewagen’s interests also extend to strategic issues impacting her constituents in the Pacific region, focusing on sustainable development and U.S. engagement in the Pacific Islands, such as through her support for the BLUE Pacific Act (HB562), which aims to strengthen U.S. relationships with Pacific Island nations.
In her personal life, Aumua Radewagen remains connected to her roots in American Samoa and emphasizes family and community values in her congressional work. Her experience as a woman in Congress, actively representing a U.S. territory, adds a unique perspective to her political role and advocacy efforts.