Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

FSM Congress News, May 1, 2003

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): May 1, 2003 –
The Congress Central Office in Palikir, Pohnpei is
undergoing preparation before the convening of the First Regular of the 13th
Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia at 10:00 a.m. May 11, 2003,
Sunday. Temporary staff have been hired and assigned to respective
committees. Offices have been cleaned, painted and renovated. Singing of
the National Anthem has been arranged as well as who is going to deliver the
invocation and who is going to provide the refreshments.

On the opening day, the current Floor Leader Joseph J. Urusemal (Yap) will
be the temporary Speaker as he is the “youngest returning Member-elect,” as
sets forth in Rule1 Section 5 (a) of the Official Rules of Procedure for the
FSM Congress. He will preside until the 14 members select the speaker.
After taking the oath of office by FSM Chief Justice Andon L. Amaraich, the
members will select the Speaker, the Vice Speaker and Floor Leader from
among all fourteen of them. The President and Vice President will be
selected only from among the four at-large members; Senators elect Alik L.
Alik of Kosrae, Redley Killion of Chuuk, Resio S. Moses of Pohnpei and
Joseph J. Urusemal of Yap.

The speaker who is so selected will appoint the chairmen of the five
standing committees while the committee members will select the
vice-chairmen.

After the selection of the president and vice president, the speaker will
declare the positions vacant in the Congress and call for a special election
to be held in the states where the president and vice president were elected
from during the recent March election.

Staff have been working diligently at their daily duties and at the same
time wondering about the new administration. Who will be the new speaker
and how is he going to manage the Congress?

The opening day will be broadcast live throughout the four states and
Congress welcomes any interested individuals or groups who wish to observe
the opening day or throughout the duration of the session.

The session is set for 30 calendar days, but can be shortened or extended
by resolution of Congress.