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Budget and new member, issues of Special Session

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): July 13, 2001 - The Twelfth Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia convened on July 10 for its First Special Session.

According to Speaker Jack Fritz, the session is expected to continue for seven days during which Congress will welcome its newly elected member and deliberate on the FY 2002 budget for the National Government.

The Special Session opened with the accreditation and certification of Onlino Lawrence, the victor of Pohnpei's recent Special Election for District-2. Lawrence fills the two-year seat vacated by his cousin, the late Wagner M. Lawrence.

Witnessed by a crowded chamber, Speaker Fritz administered the Oath of Office to Lawrence and afterwards congratulated him on "behalf of the Congress and our staff and people of the nation."

Lawrence reciprocated his gratitude to Congress and pledged to do his very best for the "nation and the people of Madolenihmw and Kitti."

Congress returned to floor matters with the four-year term members appointed by the Speaker to wait on the President.

Before Congress recessed, Senator Resio S. Moses of Pohnpei expressed his concerns about the ecosystem. Moses said this year's harvest indicated an agricultural problem that required serious and immediate attention.

The matter was noted and Congress recessed at 12:02 to reconvene the following day at 10am.