Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

President Mori calls for Special Session of Congress to address State of Emergency

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): December 31, 2008 - On Monday, December 29th, President Mori transmitted a letter to The Honorable Isaac Figir,

FSM Speaker for Congress, calling to convene a special session from January 5 to 9, 2009 to consider the following matters:

  1. Appropriation for the emergency plan;

  2. Appropriation for Infrastructure Sector;

  3. Appropriation for T-3, FSM Public Auditor Chuuk Field office & Police Academy; and

  4. Office of SBOC (two positions).

Although Congress has plans for a regular session to convene on or about January 26th, 2009 President Mori decided that in light of the National Declaration of Emergency, based on all four States declaring states of emergency, a special session must be called to get Congress together and address the funding needs for our relief and recovery efforts. The other items on the agenda are carryovers from the last special session held in November.

Also on December 29th, the President vetoed Congressional Act No. 15-75 entitled: "AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE $1,400,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2009, FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING PUBLIC PROJECTS AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS IN THE STATES OF CHUUK, YAP, POHNPEI AND KOSRAE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

In his letter to Congress, President Mori explained that he does not oppose government-funded projects and does not reject the "wisdom in utilizing public funds to generate economic stimulus", but with the Nation facing an emergency situation, "a more rationalized approach and strategic response" is necessary.

President Mori has asked his FSM National Emergency Task Force to create an emergency response plan in the form of an appropriation bill to address the crisis. It is this bill that the President wants to bring before Congress during the special session next week. The money appropriated in Congressional Act No. 15-75, listed above, is needed for the emergency response plan, in addition to other funds.

The President continued his letter by saying that, "I therefore call upon each member of Congress that we all join hands to develop the most effective and coordinated approach to stave off the ongoing suffering of our people. What we need at this point in time is a carefully developed plan calculated to produce maximum benefit to our constituents - as opposed to a fragmented approach lacking in focus and strategic objective." The President vowed that he and his Cabinet members and Staff will be ready to assist Congress in their considerations whenever they will need information and assistance.

Today, December 31st, President Mori received confirmation from Speaker Figir that Congress will convene on Monday, January 5th to address the emergency situation. The President thanked the Speaker and Congress for their willingness to convene on such short notice and he looks forward to creating a joint solution to the situation.