Submitted by Nic, Jan 16, 2007 12:48

When will Congress finally realize that American Samoa is not under their supreme authority? American Samoa enjoys the most unique relationship of all DOI-"controlled" non-states in that Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands are all Commonwealths of the United States and subject to the Constitution as a whole. American Samoa is an unorganized and unicorporated territory, meaning the islands are not subject to all provisions of the Constitution and are under the authority of the Secretary of the Interior. Federal minimum wage laws have never applied to American Samoa, and Congress and the Dept. of the Interior have allowed American Samoa to adopt its own minimum wage for nearly 40 years. If Congress wants to enforce its authority over the southernmost American possession, then bring American Samoa into the country, otherwise leave us alone.

Furthermore, American Samoa's economy is extremely fragile since tourism cannot be counted on and the cost of importing goods is ridiculously high. Adding to this stress would only cause disaster. Minimum wage increases are important, but tread lightly on quicksand.

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