Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

Nine Acts and 11 Resolutions adopted during Second Regular Session

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): October 12, 2007 - The recent 2nd Regular Session of the 15th Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia held September 12 - 27, 2007 had adjourned with adoption of nine Congressional Acts and 11 Congressional Resolutions.

Along with Congressional Act No. 15-19, the National Government Budget for Fiscal Year 2008 the FSM Congress had passed the following legislations:

Congressional Act No. 15-15, to amend PL.14-84 for Kosrae State public projects

CA 15-16, to amend PL.14-107 to change the use of funds previously appropriated for a certain project in Pohnpei's Election District No.1 to apply instead towards the Likie Road Paving;

CA 15-17, to amend PL.14-53 to change the use of funds previously appropriated for certain projects in Yap State to apply instead towards purchase of musical instruments and sporting equipments for the Outer Islands Youth Development;

CA 15-18, to amend PL 14-67 to allow certain changes in Chuuk's state wide public projects to include Public Lavatory Toilet facilities, sea wall and taro patch projects, Seedling and Planting project, Youth programs, Assistance for Disabled Persons and towards operations of the delegation office.;

CA 15-20, to allow the outright purchase of the school site for Pattiw Jr. High;

CA 15-21, to appropriate the FY-2004 carryover funds from the Education Sector Funds to allow funding of national government educational support activities;

CA 15-22, to appropriate 2.1 million to fund public projects and social programs in each state , to be apportioned at $200,000 per member of Congress; and

CA 15-23, to amend PL. 13-57 to authorize the use of $500,000 from the 1st tranche of the FSM National Government's portion of the Private Sector Development Program Loan and from the Asian Development Bank to fund tax reform efforts and related needs as required for the Private Sector Develop program.

Along with the Congressional Bills, the 2nd Regular Session had also adopted 11 Congressional Resolutions. In addition to the Resolutions confirming the nominations of Andrew Yatilman (CR. 15-18) and Fabian Nimea (CR. 15-12) for the two new offices at the Executive Branch, the remaining Resolutions are:

Congressional Resolution No. 15-37, confirmed the nomination of Mrs. Mary Berngun Figir to be a member of the COM-FSM Board of Regent;

CR. 15-38, thanked and welcomed the delegation from the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China to the Federated States of Micronesia;

CR. 15-39, approved the terms of supply and purchase agreements with Mobil Oil Micronesia, Inc. (MOMI);

CR .15-43, expressed the gratitude of the Congress and the people of the Federated States of Micronesia to the Honorable Redley Killion for his many years of dedicated service as a member of Congress and as Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia;

CR. 15-46, expressed the gratitude of the Congress and the people of the Federated States of Micronesia to the Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal for his many years of dedicated service as a member of Congress and his year of services as the President of the Federated States of Micronesia;

CR. 15-47, set the ceiling of the total funds estimated to be available for appropriation from the General Fund of the Federated States of Micronesia for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008;

CR. 15-48, authorized the President to resubmit the nomination of Mr. Lyndon L. Cornelius to be Kosrae State representative or member on the Board of Regents of College of Micronesia;

CR. 15-50, denied approval of the Foreign Fishing Agreement between the National Oceanic Resource Management Authority and Pacific Foods and Services Incorporated; and

Congressional Resolution No. 15-52, congratulated the nine athletes who represented the Federated States of Micronesia at the 2007 South Pacific Games in Samoa for their outstanding performances. Team FSM was comprised of 9 athletes, 2 coaches, 2 referees and 1 Chef de Mission. The Resolution noted that despite being the second smallest delegation in number to the games, the FSM team of athletes finished in 8th place in the final overall Games tally with: six gold medals, six silver medals and one bronze.

Leading the FSM athletes was Manuel Miningfel who had, in addition to gold medals, set 19 regional and South Pacific Games records in the 56kg men's weightlifting category and also won the Sinclear Award as the overall strongest male weightlifter in all weight categories.

The other athletes on Team FSM were: Dundy Dosalua (Pohnpei), Marcel Yatilman (Yap), Keitani Graham (Chuuk), Larry Uwelur (Yap) and Kun Killin (Kosrae) in Wrestling; Jack Howard and Maria Ikelap both from Chuuk in Track and Field; and finally Debra Daniel(Pohnpei) in the Swimming category.

Their participation at the 2007 South Pacific Games is, according to the Resolution, "a source of great pride and inspiration" for the people of the FSM.