Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

FSM Congress News, July 24, 2003

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): July 24, 2003 –
The First Special Session of the 13th FSM Congress
adjourned sine-die after six days of plenary meetings. The special session
took place in Palikir beginning on the 12th of July until July 17.

Congress adopted two resolutions and past on 2nd and Final Reading to other
bills.

The resolutions expressing appreciation of the people and Congress of the
Federated States of Micronesia to the athletes, coaches and support staff
who represented the FSM in the South Pacific Games and one extended the
one-day special session for five more days.

The two bills; C.B. No. 13-17, to reallocate certain funds previously
appropriated for Election District No. 3 in the State of Chuuk and C.B. No.
13-24, which would modify the use of certain funds previously appropriated
for the Faichuk Region in Chuuk from school and classroom renovations and
improvements to construction of the same.

During discussion on the later bill, Speaker Peter M. Christian encouraged
Members of Congress to follow the good example set out by Senator Tiwiter
Aritos of Chuuk who instead of renovating the school buildings as proposed
by the law appropriating the funds, decided to reconstruct them with
matching funds provided by the government of Japan.

The school buildings were blown away in the wake of Typhoon Chataan when it
roamed the State of Chuuk and left few dead, many homeless, hideous mud
slights, and blown away homes and official buildings, including school
classrooms.

The senator requested some funds from the government of Japan and plans to
match what he had found with the $201,200 previously appropriated by the
12th Congress for renovation and improvement.

On the day of its adjournment, Congress received several nominations for
President Urusemal’s cabinet. Mr. Paul McIlrath is re nominated to continue
his post as Secretary for the Department of Justice, as well as Mr. Akillino
H. Susaia for the Department of Transportation, Communication and
Infrastructure. Mrs. Beauleen Carl-Worswick is also re nominated to
continue to serve as the Public Defender and Mr. Bethwel Henry for the Post
Master General.

On the overseas positions, President Urusemal re nominated all current
Consul Generals in the FSM’s two Consulate Office in Guam and Hawaii and
Deputy Chief of Missions in all four FSM Embassies in Fiji, Japan,
Washington D.C. and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

The president nominated Mr. Kandhi A. Elieisar to be Ambassador to Japan.
Mr. Elieisar’s nomination is the only one submitted among the other
embassies.

The remaining nominations to be made include the Secretary and Deputy
Secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Secretary and Deputy
Secretary for the Department of Economic Affairs, Secretary and Deputy
Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration, and Secretary and
Deputy Secretary for the Department of Health, Education and Social Affairs.

In his letter to Speaker Peter M. Christian, the president said that the
remaining nominations would be made as soon as consultation with members of
Congress is completed.

Some Members of Congress disagree with the way the president submitted his
nominations. These Members thought the president should submit all his
nominations at once. That way Members would have broader picture in
analyzing their votes on each of the nominee and other nominees that might
follow others if not consented. The wish is that the president submits all
the rest of his nominations before the August special session in order to
give enough time for Members to look at each one of the nominees.