18th FSM Congress passes six bills and adopts 3 resolutions during first special session

FSMIS (August 1, 2013): The First Special Session of the 18^th FSM Congress was concluded on July 25 with the following bills and resolution passed and adopted.

C.B. No. 18-26, CD1:  To further amend section 934 of Title 54 of the Code of the FSM, as amended by Public Law N. 17-83, to extend a deadline set for the implementation of the tax reform, and for other purposes. The new deadline set is September 30, 2013.

C.B. No. 18-27:  To appropriate the sum of $ 1,680,000 from the General Fund of the FSM for FY2013 to assist Pohnpei State and Yap State in retiring debt and recovering budget shortfalls, and for other purposes. Pohnpei will receive $ 1,130,000 provided that $ 130,000 be used to fund Micronesian Legal Services Corporation, and $ 895,000 be used to cover principal amount owed by Pohnpei employers to Social Security. Yap State will receive $ 550,000 provided that $ 50,000 be used for fuel for a field trip through Yap islands.

C.B. No. 18-29, CD4:  To amend sections 2,3,4,5 and 6 of the Public Law No. 18-05 to change the use and allottee of funds as previously appropriated. Included in the amendments was an increase in the share for the at-large senators of Chuuk and Kosrae by $ 100,000 each.

C.B. No. 18-30:  To amend Public Law No. 17-68, as amended by Public Law No. 17-71, 17-81, 17-84, 17-89, and 18-03, by amending Section 6 thereof, for the purpose of changing the allottee of certain funds previously appropriated therein, and for other purposes. The allottee of the funds appropriated for Chuuk State, as per Section (5)(2)(c) of the said public law shall be the Governor of Chuuk State.

C.B. No. 18-31:  To amend Public Law No. 10-31 by adding a new section 9, for the purpose of forgiving the remaining balance of the recovery loan assistance extended to Chuuk State, and for other purposes. The loan assistance extended to Chuuk was $ 3,762,987. Current outstanding is $ 748,804.

C.B. No. 18-34:  To further amend Public Law No. 14-104, as amended by Public Law No. 15-01 and 15-04, by adding a new section 14 for the purpose of forgiving the remaining balance for the recovery loan assistance extended to the State of Kosrae, and for other purposes. The loan provided to Kosrae State was $ 1,500,000 and the current balance is $ 1,310,000.

Resolutions:

C.R. No. 18-31:  A resolution setting the ceiling for funds estimated to be available for appropriation from the General Fund of the FSM for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013. The ceiling is set at $ 52,566,824 for domestic revenue and $ 7,699,210 for funds available from the Compact of Free Association, as amended.

C.R. No. 18-33:  A resolution confirming the nomination of Mr. Vincent Tafileluw to serve as a member on the FSM Social Security Board of Directors representing Yap State.

C.R. No. 18-34:  Approving and accepting a grant assistance in the amount of $ 10,000 from the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, to fund the implementation of the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child state reporting project, including all the terms and conditions of the assistance.

The bills are undergoing review and consideration at the Executive Branch, except C.B. No. 18-26 which was already signed into law by President Manny Mori on July 19.

Most information provided here were extracted from a July 29 report to the President by his Chief of Staff. 

For further information, email fsmpio@mail.fm .