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FSM Congress News, September 4, 2003

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): September 4 - After Congress recessed on Friday, August 28, 2003 to allow ample time for each respective committees to continue holding public hearings, Congress once again reconvened yesterday afternoon with all 14 members present. The 10^th day of the Second Special Session got underway at 2:00 p.m. with Speaker Peter Christian presided.

Congress adopted Standing Committee Report No. 13-25 (which is to amend PL No. 12-50 to clarify the use of certain funds appropriated for state judiciaries and to broaden the use of certain funds appropriated for the Chuuk Judiciary and Standing Committee Report No. 13-26 (to amend section 207 of title 2 of the FSM Code to require that the FSM President limits the term of the FSM ambassadors overseas to be equivalent to the term of the President). The main idea is to allow the President and the Congress to evaluate.

Congressional Bill No. 13-5 passed First Reading after Members debated on the proposed bill to redistribute the existing revenue-sharing formula back to 50/50 between the National Government and the four states. C.B. 13-5 is intended to amend Public Law 10-68 to return 20% given to the states, specifically to be used for education and health. The proponents of the bill believe that by returning the 20% back to the National Government will help balance the National Budget, the opponents see the need to delay action on the bill until October session so that the budget can clarified. Congressional Bill No. 13-23 CD1, also passed First reading, which is a bill to amend Public Law 13-10, extending the lapsing date, and to change the date by which the Department of Finance and Administration must provide fund balance information. Congressional Bill No. 13-27, a bill to further amend Public Law No. 7-39 by amending section 2 thereof to reallocate certain funds previously appropriated for Yap State public Projects passed its second and final reading.

Senator Jack Fritz thanked Speaker Christian, on behalf of the Chuuk Delegation for allowing them to travel back to Chuuk over the weekend to do consultation with the state's leadership. He also thanked Members of Congress, on behalf of the Government and the people of Chuuk by unanimously adopting Congressional Resolution No. 13-38, ($2,350,000 grant from the US Department of Labor) which portion of the grant will be used to assist in the cleaning and restoration activities in the State of Chuuk following the wake of Tropical Storm Chata'an. And according to Senator Fritz, their meetings were indeed useful and necessary.

Speaker Christian called the 10^th day into recess at 3:00 p.m.