Resolutions of Third Regular Session of 23rd CFSM
PALIKIR, POHNPEI. During its 14-day Third Regular Session in January, the 23rdCongress of the Federated States of Micronesiaadopted several Congressional Resolutions (CR) to address funding needs of various federal programs in the Nation, confirmed several board nominations and condolence resolutions.
As the month of January started out with the loss of two Members of the current 23rd Congress within days of each other, the Congress expressed the collective condolence and sadness of the body to the families of the departed senators through the adoption of CR No. 12-114, for the late Senator Florencio Singkoro Harper and CR No. 12-115, for the late Senator Paliknoa K. Welly. Through CR No. 23-125, the Congress paid their respect and condolences to the family of the late Reverend Father Kenneth J. Urumolug, SJ, who had passed in December 2023.
To address the pending nominations, the Congress began with the confirmation of board member of the Caroline Island Air Corporationwhich included:
· CR No. 23-47, for Faustino Yarofaisug to represent Yap State;
· CR No. 23-48, for Alik K. Jackson as the Kosrae State representative;
· CR No. 23-49, for Alfred Ansin to represent Chuuk State; and
· CR No. 23-51, for Trevayne Esielas the Pohnpei State representative.
The remaining nomination resolutions authorized the resubmission of previously defeated nominations for consideration during the next Congress session, and they included:
· CR No. 23-84,for Leonito M. Bacalando Jr., to serve as the Secretary of the FSM Department of Justice;
· CR No. 3-117,for Myron S. Hashiguchi to be the National Government representative on theFSM Petroleum CorporationBoard;
· CR No. 23-118,forRoger Arnold to represent Chuuk State on the National Oceanic Resource Management Authority (NORMA) Board of Directors; and
· CR No. 23-119,for Kapilly Capelle to represent Pohnpei State on the NORMA Board.
Aside from the ceiling resolution (CR No. 23-112) setting the total funds available for appropriation, the remaining resolutions were for acceptance and approval of United States Federal Grants for the various ongoing health and education programs and services across the Nation, and they included:
· CR 23-102,for a $2,564,294 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund the FSM Special Education Program and its services;
· CR 23-110,for a $137,047 grant from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, to fund the FSM Maternal and Child Health Services Program for fiscal year 2024;
· CR 23-113,accepted a $514,127 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the budget period beginning December 01, 2023 to November 30, 2024 to fund Component A – Strengthening the Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems in the FSM;
· CR 23-116,accepted a $1,459,800 grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), to fund the implementation of the National Adaption Planning project in the FSM; and finally
· CR 23-123,for a $772,050 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to fund and accelerate the prevention and control of HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Disease, and Tuberculosis in the FSM.
With the passage and adoption of the Congressional Resolutions and Acts, the Third Regular Session adjourned on January 23, 2024, a few days shy of its scheduled 20-day session. The next Regular Session of the 23rd Congress by law, is set for May 11, 2024, unless a special session is called for earlier.
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