PALIKIR, POHNPEI. August 1, 2022– The Congress adjourned its Fifth Special Session on July 18, 2022, with measures that included the appropriation of an emergency fund of $1million to health services across the Federated States of Micronesia in response to the COVID-19 infection, specifically for treatment and testing.
Congressional Act (CA) 22-140, appropriated $2, 277,000 to supplement the FY 2022 Budget to address various unforeseen national issues among which included, funding the health services response to the COVID-19 virus in the FSM. The supplemental budget also included a contribution from the National Government towards the interment of the Nation’s Fourth President, the late Jacob Nena.
Speaker Wesley W. Simina had called the 5th Special Session of the 22nd Congress of the FSM to convene for five days beginning on July 18 thru 22, 2022. While the special session was mainly in anticipation of the Executive Branch’s progress on the regulation for the Healthy Border Protection Act, the Congress also continued its work on the national FY-2023 Budget and address important issues before the Body – pending and new.
Along with the supplemental budget, the Congress also passed measures to address previous funding for public projects and social programs throughout the states and they include:
CA 222-138, which changed the lapse date of funds appropriated during the 20th Congress for public projects and social programs for the people in all the four states – Yap, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Chuuk.
Passage of CA 22-135, was for the states of Pohnpei and Chuuk to change the use of certain funds previously appropriated during the 21st Congress for public projects and social programs for the people of the two states.
CA 22-136and CA 22-137 are measures specific to the state of Kosrae to change the lapse dates of funds previously appropriated during the 20th Congress to fund priority infrastructure projects, public projects and social programs for the people of the state.
And finally, specific to the state of Chuuk are the following measures: CA 22-139, CA 22-141, CA 22-142, CA 22-143 and CA 22-144. These also addressed funds previously appropriated during the 20th, 21st and the current 22nd Congress to either change the allottees or use of certain funds for public project and social programs for the people of the state of Chuuk.
These were the Congressional Acts from the Fifth Special Session of the 22nd FSM Congress held July 18 thru 22, 2022. All congressional measures are accessible through the Congress: www.cfsm.gov.fm
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