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

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  1. ^ a b "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.