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Congress Holds Statewide Public Hearings on Issue of Chief Justice and Others

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): July 7, 2010 - The Committees on Judiciary and Governmental Operations (J&GO) and Resources and Development (R&D)are conducting public hearings in the states on various issues currently pending before the Sixteenth Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia.

Among the pending issues are the nominations for National Judiciary Branch for the FSM Chief Justice and for an Associate Justice, several constitutional amendments, issues on fisheries and the National Trade Policy among others.

The public hearings will be held at the respective Chambers of each State Legislature and the interested public is encouraged to attend. Two days are accorded for public hearing in each state and those days as scheduled are: June 28^th and 29^th at the Chambers of Chuuk State Legislature; July 1^st and 2^nd at the Chambers of Kosrae; and July 5^th and 6^th at the Yap State Legislature Chambers. A wrap-up hearing will be scheduled at a later date for the Pohnpei State Legislature to consolidate the committee reports for final presentation to Congress.

Pending legislations scheduled for the statewide public hearings include the following issues before the Committee on J&GO:

• Congressional Bill 16-28, a proposed amendment to the Constitution to make all members of Congress elected four years, set a term limit for members and allow all members eligibility for the Presidency and Vice Presidency;

• C.B. 16-30, to amend the procedures for admission of a new state into the FSM;

• C.B. 16-84, a proposed amendment to the Constitution to require the President and Vice President to run on the same slate for election by FSM citizens;

• Congressional Resolution 16-75, the nomination of Associate Justice Martin G. Yinug for Chief Justice of FSM Supreme Court; and

• C.R. 16-80, the nomination of Ms. Beauleen Carl-Worswick for Associate Justice of the FSM Supreme Court.

Pending before the Committee on R&D are the following measures:

• Congressional Bill 16-108, to establish a Maritime Surveillance Revolving

• C.B. 16-124, for a concession loan agreement with the Government of the People's Republic of China for the rehabilitation of shore-side fisheries transshipment and processing infrastructures in the four states; and

• Congressional Resolution 16-100, a proposed Trade Policy for the Nation.

The state-wide public hearings are headed by the Chairmen of the two Committees, Chairman Roger S. Mori of the R&D and Chairman Peter Sitan of J&GO with various members of the committees joining at various junctures of the trip.