Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

FSM Congress News, July 24, 2003

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): July 24, 2003 - The First Special Session of the 13th FSM Congress adjourned sine-die after six days of plenary meetings. The special session took place in Palikir beginning on the 12th of July until July 17.

Congress adopted two resolutions and past on 2nd and Final Reading to other bills.

The resolutions expressing appreciation of the people and Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia to the athletes, coaches and support staff who represented the FSM in the South Pacific Games and one extended the one-day special session for five more days.

The two bills; C.B. No. 13-17, to reallocate certain funds previously appropriated for Election District No. 3 in the State of Chuuk and C.B. No. 13-24, which would modify the use of certain funds previously appropriated for the Faichuk Region in Chuuk from school and classroom renovations and improvements to construction of the same.

During discussion on the later bill, Speaker Peter M. Christian encouraged Members of Congress to follow the good example set out by Senator Tiwiter Aritos of Chuuk who instead of renovating the school buildings as proposed by the law appropriating the funds, decided to reconstruct them with matching funds provided by the government of Japan.

The school buildings were blown away in the wake of Typhoon Chataan when it roamed the State of Chuuk and left few dead, many homeless, hideous mud slights, and blown away homes and official buildings, including school classrooms.

The senator requested some funds from the government of Japan and plans to match what he had found with the $201,200 previously appropriated by the 12th Congress for renovation and improvement.

On the day of its adjournment, Congress received several nominations for President Urusemal's cabinet. Mr. Paul McIlrath is re nominated to continue his post as Secretary for the Department of Justice, as well as Mr. Akillino H. Susaia for the Department of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure. Mrs. Beauleen Carl-Worswick is also re nominated to continue to serve as the Public Defender and Mr. Bethwel Henry for the Post Master General.

On the overseas positions, President Urusemal re nominated all current Consul Generals in the FSM's two Consulate Office in Guam and Hawaii and Deputy Chief of Missions in all four FSM Embassies in Fiji, Japan, Washington D.C. and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

The president nominated Mr. Kandhi A. Elieisar to be Ambassador to Japan. Mr. Elieisar's nomination is the only one submitted among the other embassies.

The remaining nominations to be made include the Secretary and Deputy Secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Secretary and Deputy Secretary for the Department of Economic Affairs, Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration, and Secretary and Deputy Secretary for the Department of Health, Education and Social Affairs.

In his letter to Speaker Peter M. Christian, the president said that the remaining nominations would be made as soon as consultation with members of Congress is completed.

Some Members of Congress disagree with the way the president submitted his nominations. These Members thought the president should submit all his nominations at once. That way Members would have broader picture in analyzing their votes on each of the nominee and other nominees that might follow others if not consented. The wish is that the president submits all the rest of his nominations before the August special session in order to give enough time for Members to look at each one of the nominees.