Transcript
Representative Fialupe Fiaui Lutu's bill received strong support in the House but faltered at its third reading in the Senate, nine votes to seven.
One of those who voted against the bill was the acting senate president.
Nuanuaolefegaiga Saoluaga Nua says his concern, and that of other senators, is for young women who become pregnant and would no longer be allowed to marry.
"There was a law before this, long time - that 14, 15, 16 and 17 years old - they are not married until the consensus from both a father and the mother [who] wants their kid to get wed."
The age where people are considered legally competent to consent to sexual acts is 16 in the territory, yet girls as young as 14 are currently allowed to marry.
For men the marriage age is 18.
The bill aims for gender equality while recognising the developmental needs of young women.
The territory's chief legislative counsel Nathaniel Savali says Fialupe aims to re-introduce her bill in the next session of the Fono.
"In the July session. The rules for the House as well as for the Senate (do) not allow her to re-introduce it in the same session that it was rejected."
Mr Savali says the Fono has been receiving a lot of feed-back via social media in support of the bill, some quite angry that it wasn't passed into law.
The women's advocacy group Pae ma Auli says the Senate did not have a thorough enough look at the bill before rejecting it.
Its president Leiataua Leuga Turner wants to ensure the bill is reintroduced with significant public education and feedback.
Leiataua says Pae ma Auli is organising a survey to establish public opinion and she says they will work with children's advocates to bring together data on what is best for girls and young women.
"And then, should this bill be introduced, we will like to be part of that development by sharing the information from the survey, and also to give people who are knowledgeable with child development an opportunity to assist."
Leiataua Leuga Turner says all the information would be incorporated and offered to the Fono for its consideration.
The senate's acting president Nuanuaolefegaiga says he'd support a well-informed reintroduction of the bill.
"When this comes before us by July, I think we have to look very closely with that. We want to see some statistics, not only [from] American Samoa but the Pacific wide."
To the west, in neighbouring Samoa men must be 21 and women 19 to marry without parental consent.
The territory's chief legislative counsel Nathaniel Savali says Fialupe was previously the Chief Clerk of the House and over her 20 years has seen others attempt to pass similar legislation.
"She's very passionate about her role as a representative as well as championing women and children, and issues that affect them."
He says this is Fialupe's first bill and she is very determined.
