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Congressional Act Becomes Law without President's signature

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Services): June 10, 2008 - Congressional Act No. 15-44 became Public Law No. 15-38, without President's signature.

Congressional Act No. 15-38: To further amend title 24 of the Code of the Federated States of Micronesia, as amended, by amending sections 201 and 202 to establishing a two term limit for members of the National Oceanic Resource Management Authority of the Federated States of Micronesia, to limit the period of time a member may serve after expiration of a term to six months, and for other purposes.

In a letter to Speaker Figir, President Mori stated that he found it difficult to make a decision reconciling the conflicting positions of the Congress and the Authority.

He added that the Authority is troubled by the limiting of the terms of office of the members of the board to a two years term as the longer a board member serves on the board, the better and more effective he becomes.

President also added that the new board members are not as effective as experienced board members.

He wrote that, on the other hand, Congress takes the view that members who serve on the board too many times become complacent and are too comfortable resulting in ineffectiveness in the discharge of their duty as managers of the authority.

President concluded that both positions are plausible and logical, yet they are not effectively addressed in the Act and decided to let the Act becomes law without his signature with intent to revisit those issues so that those seemingly conflicting positions could be harmonized for the betterment of the Authority.