Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

FSM Congress News, May 16, 2003

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): May 16, 2003 –
Congress unanimously adopted its first resolution of the
13th Congress, which expresses the gratitude of the people of the Federated
States of Micronesia to the Honorable Jack Fritz for his many years of
dedicated service as a member and speaker of the Congress of the Federated
States of Micronesia.

The Honorable Jack Fritz was first elected to the 2nd Congress of the
Federated States of Micronesia in 1981 and served numerous committee
assignments including chairmanship of the Judiciary and Governmental
Operations and Transportation and Communication, and other committees. Mr.
Jack Fritz won the speakership during the 5th Congress and retained that
position until the 12th Congress.

In order to alleviate the problems of finding money to fund the special
sessions and the inauguration, Floor Leader Henry C. Asugar introduced, in
this morning session, Congressional Bill No. 13-4, which would allow the
President to reprogram up to ten percent to and from the funds appropriated
to each department and office in the Executive Branch.

Congress is expected to consider the bill as soon as the Committee on Ways
and Means makes its report on its findings.

President Joseph J. Urusemal, Vice President Redley Killion and members of
the cabinet were escorted into the Congressional Chamber right after the
morning session to meet with Congress and address the issues that were
considered most priority to the nation and the states.

The officials discussed the FY 2004 Budget Cycle and the need for a
legislative package to implement the amended compact. The need to
establish FSM JEMCO members and staff and the amended compact ratification
process were also discussed. Other issues including ways to find funds for
special elections, inauguration and FSM athletes to the South Pacific were
also discussed. At the end of the meeting, Members of Congress seemed to
feel satisfied with some of the discussions and assured the President that
they will do their best to resolve these problems as soon as they can.

The Committee on Resources and Development met with the FSM Banking Board
this morning at 8:30 at the Central Conference Room. Members of the
committee were most interested to find out the problems affecting the
banking system in the nation, if any, and what the Banking Board thinks
should be done to resolve them.

To prepare themselves before Congress takes up the proposed budget for the
Board, the Members asked the officials who attended the meeting to walk them
through the operation of the Board and tell them what they see as hurtles
and how they react to them. Members asked Board officials to consider their
priority needs and provide those to the committee so that it can make
appropriate recommendations to Congress.

Congress recessed at 10:40 this morning and will reconvene on Monday, May
19, at 10:00 a.m.