Legislative conference 2011 concludes with defined action plan

Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

Legislative conference 2011 concludes with defined action plan

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): November 21, 2011 - As the uniting entity for the Federated States of Micronesia five legislative bodies, the MLC 2011 adopted the following resolutions to express their collective position on issues to be acted upon by each of the five legislative bodies. Those resolutions called for action on the issues of: Human Trafficking, Compact Impact and the National Tax Reform.

On the issue of Human Trafficking: the 2011 MLC, through MLC Resolution No. 11-2, accepts the obligation of the signatory legislatures to properly address the issue of human trafficking and to consider adopting a legal regime suitable to their respective jurisdictions.

With regards to Compact-Impact: the 2011 MLC, through MLCR No. 11-3, express support for the President's Task Force on Compact-Impact regarding a proposed survey of FSM citizens living in the United States and an enhanced education pertaining to living abroad for FSM citizens.

On the issue of FSM Tax Reform: the 2011 MLC, through MLCR No. 11-4, urges the signatory legislatures to act on the FSM Tax Reform Plan either positively or negatively and prior to April of 2012, to bring the years long tax reform initiative to a final conclusion.

Another resolution of note is MLCR 11-11, on the issue of Information and Communication Technology which calls for the legislative bodies to identify and eliminate structural and bureaucratic barriers to the further expansion of information and communication technology services.

The remaining MLC Resolutions included expressions of gratitude and appreciation by the five legislative bodies for the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Population Fund for their financial and technical support and to the various organizations and guest presenters of the 2011 MLC.

MLCR 11-1, expressing gratitude and appreciation to Ms. Charmaine Rodriquez of UNDP;

MLCR 11-5, expressing gratitude and appreciation to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA);

MLCR 11-6, expressing gratitude and appreciation to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP);

MLCR 11-7, expressing gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Ashley Carl and the International Organization for Migration (IOM);

MLCR 11-8, expressing gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Geoffrey Hays of UNFPA;

MLCR 11-9, expressing gratitude and appreciation to Mr. James Naich, FSM Embassy in Washington; and

MLCR 11-10, expressing gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Amena V. Yauvoli and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

The Micronesian Legislative Conference also adopted a Communiqué to reiterate the discussions and decisions of the 2011 MLC and the agreed roadmap to be taken back for action by each of the five legislative bodies.

From November 14 - 16, at the invitation of the Seventeenth Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia, representatives of the state legislative were in Palikir to participate in the 2011 Micronesian Legislative Conference.

The MLC was established to strengthen the rapport between the legislative branches of the five governments, and at the same time provide a platform for the legislative bodies to discuss and define solutions for issues of mutual concerns.