PALIKIR, POHNPEI, September 16, 2026. The Committee to Wait on the President officially met with the Executive branch on September 15, 2026, to inform the Executive that the 24th FSM Congress is in session and prepared to transact national business.
The congressional committee chaired by Senator Andy P. Choor along with members Senator Johnson A. Asher, Senator Jermy W. Mudong, and Senator Pertpetua S. Konman, met with President Wesley W. Simina, Vice President Aren B. Palik and Cabinet Members to align their legislative goals.
FY 2027 Budget and Disaster Relief
The immediate focus of both branches is the completion of the FY 2027 National Budget, with Congress urging final committee markups for early next week. Executive cabinet members will remain on island to be available to provide necessary data to expedite the process.
The nation is currently receiving relief assistance under the compact with recovery efforts well underway. President Simina announced that the United States has accepted the joint $96 million damage assessment, to which the Executive will provide regular expenditure reports on the funds used so far.
Emergency Declaration
The President and Cabinet Officials updated the Committee on the Emergency Declaration and relief efforts relating to Typhoon Sinlaku.
Compact Compliance and Financial Priorities
The Department of Finance requested the passage of a pending bill to establish an accounting and monitoring mechanism for Compact funds passed down to the States as subrecipients. To comply with federal audit findings and secure the disbursement of FY 2027 Compact funds, this measure must be enacted into law by October 1, 2026.
To address economic stabilization, the President requested a narrow legislative exception allowing the States to access the sub-accounts of the FSM Trust Fund to help stabilize local fuel prices. Additionally, while no comprehensive FY 2026 supplemental budget has been requested, standalone funding bills have been sent to Congress, including a request to fund official activities commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Nation’s independence.
Infrastructure, Technology, and Legal Affairs
The executive branch is requesting Congress for the passage of pending cybersecurity legislation. Leadership also requested approval of the Google cable project and the repurposing of a $1.9 million College of Micronesia (COM) infrastructure grant, stating that inflationary pressures could increase project costs for this critical telecommunications connection.
Nominations were also transmitted for consideration, including an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, the Consul General of the FSM in Portland-Oregon, and the Executive Director of the National Seabed Resources Authority.
Key international development grants awaiting approval include $5 million from the Asian Development Bank for national water security and $16 million from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Public Health Update
The Department of Health provided an update on the health outbreak in Chuuk State, confirming that local conditions have stabilized with the support of field medical personnel, noting that medical supplies are currently sufficient and no extra medicine has been requested. The exact source of the illness remains under active investigation, with medical teams currently analyzing for potential food contamination or marine life toxins.
The Committee to Wait on the President will present these findings as an official summary report to the Congress as sessions get underway.
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