PALIKIR, POHNPEI. May 29, 2026 – Following weeks of intensive public hearings with the national departments, agencies and offices of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Fourth Regular Session of the 24th Congress adjourned on May 22, 2026, after it extended the President’s Emergency Declaration, confirmed national officials and approved various grants and other measures.
Primary among its actions during the 4th Regular Session is the extension of President Wesley W. Simina’s Emergency Declaration (No. 26-001) to support recovery efforts currently underway to alleviate the devastating effects of Typhoon Sinlaku in the state of Chuuk. The Congress had initially adopted Congressional Resolution (CR) 23-114, to extend the President’s Emergency Declaration to June 12, 2026. After further consultations between the Executive and Legislative Branches along with documents and statements received during additional public hearings on Typhoon Sinlaku, the Congress adopted CR 24-134, to extend the Emergency Declaration from June to September 16, 2026.
The Congress confirmed the President’s Cabinet nominations with the adoption of CR 24-124 and CR 24-112. The adoption of CR 24-124 confirmed Ricky F. Cantero to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The adoption of CR 24-112, confirmed Florian J. Yatilman t
o serve as the Secretary of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECCEM).
Congressional Resolution (CR) 24-130, was adopted to authorized the resubmission of Johnny M. Silbanuz for the Guam Consulate Office. The Congress then adopted CR 24-133 confirming Johnny M. Silbanuz to serve as the FSM Consul General for the FSM Consulate Office in Guam, USA. The Congress also confirmed the President’s nominations to the various national boards, which included: CR 24-118, for Peter Garamfel to serve as Yap State’s representative on the Board of Directors of the National Oceanic Resource Management Authority (NORMA); CR 24-116, confirmed Maria Laaw to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the FSM Petroleum Corporation, representing the private sector; and finally through CR 24-128, Samson E. Pretrick was confirmed to serve as a member of the FSM Insurance Board.
Along with the confirmed nominations, the Congress accepted several grant assistances for the Nation’s continuing development, and they included the following resolutions:
- CR 24-131, authorized the submission of the Recommended National Government Compact Budget Request for fiscal year 2027 to the United States of America under Articl V. of the 2023 Fiscal Procedures Agreement;
- CR 24-86, approved a USD $300,000 grant from the Government of Japan to fund the Goods and Services Program for the FSM to assist the fisheries development program;
- CR 24-112, approved a $186,074 grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, to fund the Maternal and Child Health Services Program in the FSM;
- CR 24-117, approved a $68,480 grant from the United Nations Population Fund, to provide funding for the FSM Family Planning Program;
- CR 24-120, approved a $4,000,000 grant from the Asian Development Bank, to provide support to the Sustainable Transport and Connectivity Enhancement Project; and
- CR 24-122, approved a $186,074 grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, to fund the Maternal and Child Health Services Program in the FSM.
And finally, the adoption of CR 24-132, expressed the sincere gratitude and appreciation of the Twenty-Fourth FSM Congress to the Pohnpei Women’s Council and to the residents of the state of Pohnpei, for their generous support in providing relief assistance to the people of Chuuk State following Typhoon Sinlaku.
The next Regular Session of the Twenty-Fourth Congress is scheduled for September 12, 2026, unless a Special Session is called earlier
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