Amata Attends Defense MIA Briefing to Honor Veterans and Military Families

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata attended a special meeting Saturday for the families of U.S. personnel missing from the Vietnam War, Cold War, Korean War, and World War II. The Family Member Update, held in Dover, Delaware, by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), included over 400 Gold Star family members.

Vice Chairman Amata attended the DPAA Family Member Update to honor Veterans

Amata, who is Vice Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, traveled from DC to be there in honor of these patriotic families and all U.S. Veterans. Amata and Fred Radewagen have a personal connection to the effort, as a cousin's family is among these U.S. military families seeking long-awaited closure regarding missing loved ones. Additionally, this agency has twice in recent years brought important closure to families in American Samoa who sought information about a Service Member from past wars.

Amata attended DPAA briefing

"It is moving to see a large room full of families that sacrificed a loved one for our country and the cause of freedom," said HVAC Vice Chairman Amata. "The DPAA is doing an important service to those who served, and it's a special mission that is deserving of support. One case at a time, they bring a sense of closure to a family, often providing the ability to visit a loved one's gravesite. I admire the resolve of these dear families, and our earnest prayer is that they will be blessed with clear results to put their questions and uncertainty to rest. To the U.S. personnel engaged in this research, I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you for your dedication."

The full day's agenda in Dover included a briefing on the U.S. global efforts to account for Americans missing from past conflicts, where they also made research experts available to meet with families, and offered families tours of the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Delaware for insight into this effort.

Amata has previously visited the Agency's main Pacific office in Honolulu with the world's largest forensic anthropology laboratory for an informational tour and briefing. In multiple locations, the agency continuously studies archives and records, and sends expert teams worldwide to recover remains. The DPAA is led by Director Kelly McKeague, a retired Major General from the U.S. Air Force.

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