Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Fritz Called for First Special Session of the 10th
Congress to Convene in Chuuk State from July 28th to August 10th

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): July 4, 1997 –
On July 2, 1997, Congress Speaker informed FSM President Jacob Nena
that he is calling for the First Special Session of the 10th Congress
to be held in the Weno, State of Chuuk, convening on July 28th and
adjourning on August 10th, 1997, pursuant to Article 10, Section 16,
of the FSM Constitution and the relevant provisions of the FSM Code
and the Official Rules of Procedures of the 10th Congress.

Among the issues left pending before Congress are President’s
nominations of cabinet positions requiring advice and consent of
Congress, the proposed restructuring of the National Government, the
proposed amendments to the FSM foreign investment law, and other
priority matters of interest to the nation.

Speaker Fritz invited President Nena and his cabinet members, the
Chief Justice and other justices of the FSM Supreme Court and State
Courts, State Governors, Speaker and members, officials of state
governments, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional leaders,
municipal government officials and the general public to join the
Congress during this special session.

This will be the second time during the 18 years of Congress
history that a session is held away from Pohnpei State, the seat of
the FSM Government and the second time a session of Congress is held
in Chuuk State, the first was in 1980, according to a Congress
release.

Holding a Congress session away from Palikir, Pohnpei, presents an
opportunity for the residents of the host state to observe Congress
in action. However, it also means that more money is needed to
defray travel, logistics and per diem costs. Congress included
$70,000 for Special Session in its Fiscal Year 1997 Budget
Supplemental appropriation, Public Law No 10-4.