18th FSM Congress’ actions on 13th day of Second Regular Session, September 24

FSMIS (September 24, 2013): Among some actions undertaken on the thirteenth day of its Second Regular Session, the 18^th Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) took note of eight communications from FSM President Manny Mori, which were assigned to corresponding Congressional Committee by Speaker Dohsis Halbert. Included among these communications were a proposed bill requiring deportees convicted of crimes in foreign countries to register with the FSM National Police; a transmittal on the FSM Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy; a proposed bill establishing a revolving fund for the FSM Postal Services; and a request urging Congress to fund from domestic revenue a number of items that will not be funded from Compact sector grants in fiscal year 2014.

Congress also reviewed and adopted Standing Committee Report No. 18-37 from the Committee on Ways and Means, which has review jurisdictions over the proposed budgets for the Office of the President, Department of Finance and Administration, Office of SBOC, Congress and the Office of the Public Auditor. The committee also looks over funding requests for the Grants, Subsidies and Contributions as well as the Capital and Human Resource Development sides of the National Governments budget.

Two grant approving resolutions were also adopted. One of them concerns a grant of $1.4 million for the rehabilitation of the Chuuk Airport runway including a design to relocate its electrical vault. The other grant is in the amount of $200,000 to fund the conduct of a Runway Safety Area Study for the Chuuk International Airport. These grants were awarded by the United States Federal Aviation Authority. Secretary Francis Itimai from the Department of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure confirmed through phone call that airport improvement projects (AIP) for the other States have been ongoing.

After exchanging opposing views, Congress decided to defer action on a proposed bill (C.B. 18-72) that would put in place certain legal obligations for some departments and agencies at the National Government in relation to the FSM Integrated Disaster and Climate Change Policy. Some Members see the need to underpin binding obligations through legislation to demonstrate fidelity to climate change discussions.  

Noting the FSM’s active role in environment and climate change international discussions and interventions, Congress ratified the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change through Congressional Resolution No. 18-54. The resolution was pulled from among a number of tabled measures without much hesitation as Members were ready to end the day’s meeting. 

The session recessed at noon and will resume tomorrow morning at ten o' clock.