Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

FSM Congress News, May 31, 2004

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): May 31, 2004 - Members of Congress, on Memorial Day today, honored, in their remarks, the brave men and women who have given their lives in the cause of freedom. Discussions on the matter were all in support and association of what Senator Isaac V. Figir said about those who have put their lives at risk to defeat tyranny and oppression.

At the opening of today's session, which always start with a moment of silent prayer, Speaker Peter Christian asked Members to remember our young men and women who are in Iraq fighting for the purpose of peace, freedom and democracy.

On the order, Congress passed on 2nd and Final Reading a bill to require the President to appoint all members of the FSM JEMCO and the Compact Trust Fund with the advice and consent of Congress. It also approved a bill to exempt employees of the National weather or Meteorological Services from the National Public Service System On the 1st Reading Calendar, Congress passed the bill that would set procedures for the admission of a new state into the Federation. It also passed two other bills to change allottee and modify the use of certain funds previously appropriated for the Southern Namoneas region in the State of Chuuk.

At the hearing sights, the Committee on Resources and Development held public hearings regarding the nomination of Mr. Andrew Yatilman to the position of Secretary of the FSM Department of Economic Affairs. The hearing started on Thursday and continued this afternoon, Monday, May 31. It went rather well.

In his remarks during today's hearing, Mr. Yatilman said as a state level person, the Department is the backbone of the economic development of this nation and the problem with lack of coordination, communication, cooperation and responsiveness to the states should be improved. As a Secretary, clear instructions, team works, follow-up on tasks assigned, and periodical visits to each of the states are necessary improvement.

Congress will reconvene tomorrow, June 1, 2004 at 10:00 a.m.