Full Name: Sam Puletasi

Name on Ballot: Sam Puletasi

Age: 54

Political Party: Democrat

Running For: U.S. House

District (House): 1

Email Address: palasispuletasi@hotmail.com

Current Job: Retired Immigration and Naturalization Service special agent, U.S. Department of Justice

Place of birth: Tutuila, Pago Pago, American Samoa

Campaign website: www.facebook.com

Job history past 10 years: Immigration and Custom Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, senior special agent

Ever run for public office? If so, when? Outcome?

2010 State Senate, District 20, Unsuccessful

2012 State House, District 40, Unsuccessful

2014 Lieutenant governor, state of Hawaii Unsuccessful

Other civic experience or community service?

Leader and sponsored events: Democratic Oahu County Committee Region chairman; Ewa Beach Neighborhood Board member; Hawaii State Medical Board member; Filipino Urdaneta & Associates Club of Hawaii; Ewa Beach Lions Club; Womens Voter’s League; Hawaii Wing Civil Air Patrol; U.H. Asians and Pacific; Filipino Disasters; Surfrider Foundation and many other events advocating for humanitarian and good cause benefiting for the poor, seniors and disabled groups.

What makes you qualified to be a U.S. representative?

Former senior DOJ agent dealing with domestic and foreign affairs, oversaw federal laws governing border control, customs, trade and immigration to promote homeland security and public safety, protect the public by targeting war criminals, terrorism in accordance to Immigration and Nationality Act and U.S. code and was National Union Steward for American Federation Government Employees.

Do you support the use of United States combat troops in Syria to defeat ISIS, or to end the rule of President Bashar al-Assad?

No. It is difficult and complicated to clearly identify the combatants in the Syrian situation. However, I would support supplying air and humanitarian aid and consider the adjudication of refugees critically suffer from fear of persecution due to hostility, cruelty and many form of harsh treatment by foreign countries.

Do you support the continued use of U.S. troops in Iraq, or should those troops be withdrawn?

No. Suddam Hussein is gone and the longer our troops remain there, the more death and conflicts will occur leading to other unnecessary problems.

Do you support the continued use of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, or should those troops be withdrawn?

It is time to take an advisory and diplomatic role in Afghanistan to aid in their country’s rebuilding. We have absolutely no motivation to commit to another military effort on the ground.

Should the United States recognize a Native Hawaiian government through an administrative rule or an act of Congress?

The Clinton apology is not enough. The government should take the actions necessary to ensure there is no further loss of culture, language and people. We can’t preserve the aina and the people of Hawaiian ancestry without that support.

What changes should be made to the federal Affordable Care Act?

Obamacare has been essential in providing millions of people coverage where they had none before. We need to expand this effort by moving closer to a single payer system and we REALLY need to make sure that Medicare can negotiate the price of drugs.

Should the federal government legalize marijuana?

YES. The failed War on Drugs has locked up minorities dis-proportionately and produced an undue burden on the government and society while providing few solutions. The scientific evidence is validating the anecdotal evidence that cannabis has medicinal benefit. I fully support the recreational cannabis and the Democratic platform.