Tofoitaufa Sandra Salevasaosamoa King-Young is an American Samoan politician. She is currently the American Samoa Medicaid Director.[1][2] She is a member of the American Samoa Democratic Party.

Tofoitaufa was born in American Samoa and educated at Loyola Marymount University, George Washington University and the Stanford Graduate School of Business.[1] In 1999 she was appointed Deputy Director of the Office of Insular Affairs.[3]

She participated in the 2012 American Samoa gubernatorial election as running mate for Save Liuato Tuitele,[4] but was eliminated in the first round.[5]

In August 2013 she resigned as chair of the LBJ Tropical Medical Center in order to take up the position of Medicaid director.[6]

In May 2019 she was forced to suspend critical health services due to lack of funding.[7] In November 2019 the off-island referral program to treat American Samoans overseas was suspended.[8] In August 2020 she suggested a sales tax or legalisation of medicinal marijuana be used to fund medicaid in American Samoa.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "SANDRA KING YOUNG" (PDF). United States Congress. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  2. "Sandra King Young | Samoan, Public Servant, Leader". Sandra King Young.
  3. "Politician Tulsi Gabbard, 'West Side Story' star Rita Moreno among influential women from U.S. territories". www.usatoday.com. 13 August 2020.
  4. "Save picks woman as American Samoa co-candidate". RNZ. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  5. "Gubernatorial race in American Samoa has no clear winner". RNZ. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  6. "American Samoa hospital has new interim chairman". RNZ. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  7. "US funding shortfall sees health services suspended in American Samoa". RNZ. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  8. Simmons-Duffin, Selena. "America's 'Shame': Medicaid Funding Slashed In U.S. Territories". www.capradio.org.
  9. "Medicinal marijuana option looked at as American Samoa seeks funding". RNZ. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
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