Supplemental Budget Request Approved for Executive Branch

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Supplemental Budget Request Approved for Executive Branch

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): March 4, 2010 – During the Third Regular Session of Congress in January, 2010, the Executive Branch submitted a revised request for supplemental budget to the FY 2010 Budget in the amount of $2.27 million. During that session, Congress held public hearings on the various portions of the supplemental request and passed Congressional Act No. 16-27 which appropriated $2.633,632 from the FSM General Fund, but made changes to several of the original line items in the request.

In the PIO Press Release #0110-33, “Executive Branch transmits new Supplementary Budget Request to Congress“, a detailed list of the supplemental budget request was explained. Here are the results from the original request showing whether they were approved, modified, or deleted in CA No. 16-27:

1. Department of Resources and Development $72,000 (approved)

   a. $22,000 for the implementation of the Micronesian Challenge activities was approved.

   b. $50,000 for Executive Task Force on FSM Fisheries Rehabilitation project was approved.

2. Judiciary Branch $20,000 (delayed for approval)

   a. $20,000 to help defray cost of medical referral for Chief Justice Amaraich was delayed because this amount was estimated. This item will be revisited when the exact amount is known.

3. Compact Review Committee $123,689 (decreased from $150,000)

   a. The funds will enable the Compact Review Committee to coordinate essential parts of the 5-Year Compact Review with RMI and Palau as well as the US Executive Branch and members of the US Congress, to ensure that desired objectives sought by the FSM will be achieved.

4. FSM Trust Fund Committee $15,000 (decreased from $25,000)

   a. To provide funds for the FSM Trust Fund Committee to meet and reassess the advisory, money management, and administrative arm of the Fund to improve overall performance in order to achieve financial equilibrium.

5. President’s Office $55,000 (increased from $40,000)

   a. The funding requested is for the President’s official visit to the outer islands of Yap, Pohnpei and Chuuk. $40,000 (approved)

6. Department of TC&I $370,000 (decreased from $406,518)

   a. $36,518 to fulfill the FSM National Government’s required matching share of the IMF fund was not approved.

   b. $100,000 for rehabilitation of the facilities at the FSM Capitol complex that are in dire need of repair and renovation was approved as requested.

   c. $270,000 to repair the unexpected failure of the bow door and ramp on the MV Caroline Voyager was approved as requested.

7. National Scholarship $250,000 (approved)

   a. This amount is for the National Scholarship fund for FSM students that are currently in post secondary institutions and need financial assistance to continue their college education. This will cater to students who are undergraduate seniors or are in graduate, law, medical, or engineering colleges or programs.

8. MLFC Loan Payment $100,000 (approved)

   a. This funding is requested for the loan payment for the Micronesian Longline Fisheries Corporation.

9. Department of Justice $570,560 (increased from $511,475)

   a. $70,560 for the reclassification of Immigration Personnel as their respective scope of work was expanded with added responsibilities and with higher level of difficulties in discharging and performing their assigned tasks without compensation was approved but decreased from $76,920 as was requested.

   b. $250,000 for the dry-docking of the FSS Independence to extend the life of the boat to maintain its capability to patrol the EES and to apprehend fishing violators and other purposes was approved as requested.

   c. $34,555 was requested to establish an Attorney General’s branch office in Chuuk but was not approved.

   d. $250,000 was approved to procure blank passports. This was increased from the original request of $150,000.

10. National Election Office $33,068 (increased from $29,975)

    a. The funding was requested to clear the outstanding billings from the March 2009 Congressional Election in Chuuk and was approved with a slight increase.

11. NORMA $88,444 (approved)

    a. The requested amount for the work to support the FSM’s submission of the Continental Shelf Extension to the U.N. Commission was approved.

12. Office of the President $150,000 (decreased from $500,000)

    a. For public education of the populace on the plebiscite for proposed amendments to the Constitution. Congress indicated that this is an initial disbursement and additional funding may be requested.

13. Postal Service $15,338 (approved)

    a. Founding for the travel needs of this agency to begin the preliminary meetings between the FSM and U.S. Postal System on an outstanding issue.

14. Department of Foreign Affairs $20,000 -(decreased from request of $66,150)

    a. $20,000 for the purchase of a vehicle for the Japan Mission Office was approved.

    b. $36,150 for office space rental for the Honolulu Consulate Office for the decentralization of passport processing was not approved.

    c. $10,000 for fixed assets for the new ambassador’s residence was not approved.

    In addition to the items submitted by the Executive Branch, Congress added in additional line items to the supplemental request:

15. Legislative Branch – Speaker/Members $160,000

    a. $90,000 is for Travel

    b. $70,000 is for contractual/representation funds (equal to $5,000/member)

16. Legislative Branch Staff $111,500

    a. $30,000 for travel

    b. $61,500 for Contractual expenses

    c. $20,000 for Other Current Expenses

17. President’s Office Contractual/representation funds $15,000

18. Foreign Affairs $40,000

    a. $20,000 for Contractual/temp. workers DOFA

    b. $20,000 Grant assistance for Haiti

19. Grant for Kosrae State Subsidy $109,033

20. FMI Land Lease – Yap $100,000

21. Xavier High School Grant $30,000

22. Chuuk Health Care Plan Grant $70,000

23. State National Leadership Conference $50,000

24. Pohnpei State Road Improvement $100,000

Congressional Act No. 16-27 was signed into law by Vice President Alik L. Alik on behalf of President Mori on March 1, 2010 and became Public Law 16-25. A copy of the Public Law can be found on the FSM Congress website: http://www.fsmcongress.fm/pdf%20documents/16th%20Congress/Public%20Laws/Public%20Law%2016-25.pdf