Special Session called for measures pending with Congress

Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Special Session called for measures pending with Congress

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): January 7, 2003 - The Twelfth Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia will convene at 10 a.m. tomorrow, for its Fourth Special Session for an expected duration of three days.

In his letter to President Leo A. Falcam, Speaker Jack Fritz said the Special Session was called so that Congress can "deliberate on numerous important measures, which remain pending before this body at the end of the Fourth and last, Regular Session of the Twelfth Congress."

The session as usual is open to the general public.

On a related note, the Legislative Body had submitted over 20 Bills to the President's office after it adjourned in mid-November. Fifteen of the Bills have been signed into Law and the remaining six Bills were vetoed.

P.L. No. 12-51: to further amend Title 53 of the FSM Code to permit tax information sharing between the Dept. of Finance and Administration and the Social Security Administration, and for other purposes;

P.L. No. 12-52: amending Title 9 of the FSM Code to make changes to the National Election Code, and for other purposes;

P.L. No. 12-53: amend and restate P.L. No. 12-50, to appropriate additional sum of $11,559,130, for a total of $37,759,964, to fund FY 2003 operations of the national government;

P.L. No. 12-54: amending P.L. No.9-095 to reallocate certain funds appropriated for primary and secondary schools in the northwest islands of Chuuk;

P.L. No. 12-55: amending P.L. No. 8-115, to reallocate funds for Northwest Island to communication equipment for dispensaries and to change allottee of such funds from Pattiw Development Authority to Northwest Island Project Coordinator;

P.L. No. 12-56: amending P.L. No. 11-36, to reallocate certain funds in Public Projects in the States of Pohnpei and Yap;

P.L. No. 12-57: to further amend Title 29 of the FSM Code to enact a new chapter under the Banking Laws to incorporate the Basle principles and other international standards of banking supervision;

P.L. No. 12-58: amending P.L No. 11-143 to reallocate certain funds in Pohnpei's Public projects;

P.L. No. 12-59: appropriation of $40,188 to fund the Faichuuk Pharmaceutical and Health Center;

P.L. No. 12-60: amending P.L. No. 11-27, to reallocate funds previously appropriated to ED5 in Chuuk to use as a Fishing Grant supplement, for Housing Grant Assistance and for school lunch program supplement and reallocate funds from Outer Islands of Yap State infrastructure Development Projects to the Yap Delegation Office;

P.L. No. 12-61: amending P.L. No. 8-100 to change allottee for funds allocated for grant assistance to Chuukese students, Mizpah High School, and Chuuk High School cafeteria from Secretary of Education to Chuuk State Commission on Improvement Projects;

P.L. No. 12-62: amending P.L. No. 9-100, reallocate funds for Northwest Islands for use in PJ High School Renovation and construction projects; & Designate Northwest Islands Project Coordinator as allotee of such funds;

P.L. No. 12-63: to further amend Title 41 of the FSM Code of the FSM and eliminate the advice and consent requirements for National Board of Nursing, and other purposes;

P.L. No. 12-64: amending P.L. No. 11-59, for the reallocation of portion of funds for ED1 in Pohnpei, reallocation of fund for ED Nos. 1, 4 & 5 in Chuuk and change use of certain funds for Yap State;

P.L. No. 12-65: amending Title 50 and 51 of the FSM Code to modify the entry and/or work permit process for foreign workers, long term residents and spouses of citizens of the FSM, and for other purposes;

P.L. No. 12-66: amend P.L. No. 12-13, to extend the moratorium on immigrants of certain alien workers to allow non-resident worker to engage in and or employ or change employer for a defined period, and for other purposes.

The six vetoed Bills included:

C.B. No. 12-36, CD2: To further amend Title 30 of the FSM Code for the Federated Development Authority to authorize FSM Development Bank's turn over, under certain circumstances, the unexpended money in each State's sub-accounts of the Investment Development Fund, and to cease administration such funds;

C.B. No. 12-130, CD1: amending P.L. No. 12-36 to reallocate certain funds appropriated for the construction and repair of damage to the Outer Island Airstrips in the Nation, and for other purposes;

C.B. No. 12-143: amending Title 9 of the FSM Code to establish Special Polling Places, and for other purposes;

C.B. No. 12-154, CD3: amending P.L. No. 10-120, reallocate funds for Chuuk ED. 5 to Houk Airport Grant supplement;

C.B. No. 12-163: amending P.L. No. 9-052 to reallocate certain funds appropriated for the Northwestern islands in Chuuk and for other purposes;

C.B. No. 12-164: amending P.L. No. 10-126 to reallocate certain funds approved for the State of Yap.

The Special Session would follow-up on matters left pending at the end of the Fourth Regular Session.