Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

National Departments in front of Congress for their FY-12 Budgets

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): May 18, 2011 - The Seventeenth Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia has called in the Departments, Offices and Agencies of the National Government to review their budgets for fiscal year 2012.

For three days after the reorganization of May 11th, members of Congress attended to the logistical and organizational matters within their Delegations along with the compositions of the Congressional Standing Committees.

The composition of the reorganized Standing Committees are as follows:

The Committee on Ways and Means is chaired by Senator Dohsis Halbert with the Heads of the other Standing Committees making up its membership: Senators Peter M. Christian, Roger S. Mori, Tony H. Otto, David W. Panuelo, Joseph J. Urusemal and Paliknoa K. Welly.

The Committee on Resources and Development is chaired by Senator Roger S. Mori with membership comprised of: Senators Peter M. Christian, Florensio Singkoro Harper, Bonsiano Fasy Nethon, David W. Panuelo, Joseph J. Urusemal and Paliknoa K. Welly.

The Committee on External Affairs is chaired by Senator Paliknoa K. Welly with the following members: Senators Tiwiter Aritos, Isaac V. Figir, Berney Martin, Bonsiano Fasy Nethon, Tony H. Otto and David W. Panuelo.

The Committee on Health and Social Affairs is chaired by Senator Tony H. Otto with membership comprised of the following: Senators Tiwiter Aritos, Dohsis Halbert, Florensio Singkoro Harper, Berney Martin, Joseph J. Urusemal and Paliknoa K. Welly.

The Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations is chaired by Senator David W. Panuelo has the following members: Senators Tiwiter Aritos, Isaac V. Figir, Dohsis Halbert, Roger S. Mori, Bonsiano F. Nethon and Paliknoa K. Welly.

The Committee on Education is chaired by Senator Joseph J. Urusemal and has the following members: Senators Peter M. Christian, Dohsis Halbert, Florensio Singkoro Harper, Bonsiano F. Nethon, Tony H. Otto and Paliknoa K. Welly.

And the Committee on Transportation and Communications is chaired by Senator Peter M. Christian is comprised of the following membership: Senators Isaac V. Figir, Florensio Singkoro Harper, Berney Martin, Roger S. Mori, Bonsiano F. Nethon and Paliknoa K. Welly.

On Monday May 16, the Committees began their line-up of public hearings for the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for each of the Departments, Offices and Agencies of the National Government.

The month of May, in addition to seating and reorganizing a new Congress, has always been the session which Congress begins its deliberations on the national government.

Congress met briefly on Tuesday May 17th - Day Seven of the First Regular Session of the 17th Congress and went into a five-day recess to the various committees enough time to meet with those national entities within their jurisdictions.

Congress is expected to reconvene Monday morning at 10 in the Congress Chamber and as usual, the sessions of the Congress are open to the interested public.