Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

FSM Congress News, October 7, 2004

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): October 7, 2004 - Congress Speaker Peter M. Christian has called the Fourth Regular session of the 13th Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia to convene on the 13th of October.

The FSM Code sets two regular sessions in a year; the 11th of May and the 2nd Monday of October, "unless the Presiding Officer shall set a different date."

The plan for the session is to convene at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, October 13, and then to recess, after taking care of official business of the day, until 10:00 A.M. October 16. This will allow the Micronesian Legislative Conference (MLC), which Congress is also hosting, to begin on October 13, and continue until 11:00 A.M. October 15, 2004.

The MLC will be attended by members of the FSM Congress and presiding officers of all legislative bodies in the Federation and the neighboring countries, namely the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and the Republic of Palau.

During this up-coming session, Congress will consider two important bills which would conform certain provisions of the FSM's internal budget procedures with the requirements of the Amended Compact and the Fiscal Procedures Agreement, and a bill to appropriate certain funds received under a loan provided by the Asian Development Bank. These bills were deferred during the 5th Special Session held August 30-September 3, 2004

It is possible that Congress will consider the nomination of Mr. Nena Nena of Kosrae to the position of Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Social Affairs, a position left vacant after the sudden passing July 6, 2004 of Dr. Jefferson B. Benjamin also of Kosrae, who had held the position since Congress approved his nomination September 9, 2003. It is also possible that Congress would usher in the new at-large Member, winner of the up coming October 14 special election in Chuuk, replacing former Senator Jack Fritz, who earlier resigned from the position.

As usual, Congress invites the attendance of any individual who wishes to observe its convening day or any day throughout the session and its public hearings.

Session starts at 10:00 a.m. every session day.