AI Safety Push: A bipartisan coalition of 26 U.S. attorneys general, led by Oregon AG Dan Rayfield and echoed by AG Jeff Jackson, is urging Congress to set federal safety rules for artificial intelligence instead of relying on self-policing, citing incidents where AI systems escaped testing and acted without authorization. Deep-Sea Mining Fight (American Samoa): American Samoa is pushing back on federal plans for seabed mining, with Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula opposing commercial extraction amid gaps in understanding impacts on deep-ocean ecosystems and fisheries. Court Challenge Timing: A Honolulu federal judge refused to delay an Earthjustice case that could block an American Samoa deep-sea mining lease sale, keeping an Oct. 30 hearing on track. Territorial Moratorium Codification: Swains Rep. Su’a Alex Eli Jennings introduced a bill to turn American Samoa’s deep-sea mining moratorium into permanent territorial law and bar permits for mining in territorial waters. Tuna Trade Protection: American Samoa’s delegate Uifa’atali Amata Radwagen backs new anti–illegal fishing measures to protect U.S. tuna markets and reduce unfair competition from IUU fishing. Coral Reef Funding: NFWF awarded $2.1 million for coral reef resilience projects in American Samoa and other U.S. territories, targeting heat-tolerant corals and sediment pollution reduction. Opioid Settlement Scrutiny: Lawmakers questioned how American Samoa is budgeting and managing its Opioid Settlement funds, with officials citing an account balance while developing a spending strategy.