Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

One override, eight bills among measures of 3rd Regular Session

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): March 4, 2008 – The Fifteenth Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia adopted several measures during the recently adjourned Third Regular Session among the measures are nine Congressional Bills (CB).

Before it adjourned sine-die on Saturday – February 23 2008, the 3rd Regular Session overrode President Manny Mori’s veto of C.B. no. 15-78, a bill which placed the positions for FSM Consulate Generals and the FSM Embassy’s Deputy Chiefs of Mission under the advice and consent of the FSM Congress.

Congress had also passed the following Congressional Bills on Second and final reading:

  • C.B. no. 15-55, a bill proposed to establish a national Venture Fund to provide an incentive for large foreign companies to register major corporations in the FSM.

  • C.B. no. 15-56, is a bill proposed to prevent the revocation or denial of spouse permits from non-citizen widows or widowers who have been married to an FSM citizen for at least 20 years. The Bill notes that it applies to those married for at least 20 years, “regardless of place of residence during marriage, shall not be revoked or denied unless the surviving spouse remarries a non-citizen”;

  • C.B. no. 15-75, a bill to amend title 7 of the FSM Code to allow, through naturalization, FSM citizenship to those FSM nationals and children of FSM citizens, and for other purposes;

  • C.B. no. 15-79, is a bill to appropriate $366,255 towards the purpose of funding the Chuuk State Government financial reform. Accordingly, the funding is so divided – $150,000 towards the Chuuk Public Utility Corporation and the remaining $216,255 towards the Chuuk State Health Care Plan;

  • C.B. no. 15-88, is a bill to appropriate $342,000 towards funding of public projects in the State of Pohnpei. Accordingly, the projects would be apportioned as follows: Kapingamarangi Airport – $200,000; Upper Ipwal to Upper Roie Road – $100,000; and Kolonia Town Court House – $42,000. The Committee on Ways and Means noted in their report that the funding was originally appropriated during the 7th Congress for the Kapingamarangi airport, but after 13 years of indecisiveness by the intended recipient, the funding was returned to the national general fund;

  • C.B. no. 15-94, is a bill to appropriate $3,780, 000 from domestic revenues to fund public projects and social programs in the four states.

  • C.B. no. 15-95, is a bill to allow the FSM Scholarship to be utilized by students pursuing civil aviation certificates or degrees in a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognized institution; and

  • C.B. no. 15-97, is a bill amending the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget law in order to appropriate a FY-2008 supplemental funding of $ 2,440,112.

These are the Congressional Bills passed by the Third Regular Session of the 15th FSM Congress held from February 4th through the 23rd 2008.