PALIKIR, POHNPEI. February 18, 2021. The 21st Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia adjourned its 6th Regular Session on February 2, 2021, with the following Resolutions.
Beginning with CR21-245, is a resolution further extending the President’s Public Health Declaration in response to the unrelenting Covid19 Global Pandemic, but more importantly, to set preparations and measures in place for a possible outbreak within the Federated States of Micronesia.
On a sad and solemn note for the nation among other condolences, the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia through CR21-248 extends its condolences to the family of the late Mr. Bethwel Henry. Mr. Henry served as the 1st Speaker of the FSM Congress since its inception in 1979 and continued serving in the role of Speaker for the following 8 years till 1987, he was the last of the Founding Fathers of the nation to pass away. Another prominent public servant of the FSM National Government, Mr. Marion Henry, Secretary of the Department of Resources & Development, passed away while serving in office in December of 2020, hence CR21-241 is a resolution extending condolences to the family of the late Mr. Marion Henry. The Congress extends its condolences to the family of the late Mr. John P. Sohl, who made many contributions to the nation since the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands era, through congressional resolution CR21-234. Chief Ramone Payel, former Senator of the 13th FSM Congress and who earlier on served as the Administrative Officer for the Yap Congressional Delegation for 20 years, passed away in December 2020. Congress also recognizes Chief Ramone Payels’ many contributions to the nation and state of Yap, noting a track record of over 50 years of public service; therefore, CR21-239 is a resolution extending its condolences to the family of the late Chief Ramone Payel. For the legislative branch of the F.S.M, Mrs. Liwiana Ramone, Chief Clerk of the FSM Congress who passed away while serving in office in December 2020, the Congress also conveys one of its deepest condolences through CR21-234 to the family of the late Chief Clerk.
On a lighter note, we have CR21-245, a congressional resolution expressing sincere gratitude and appreciation of the 21st Congress of Micronesia to Mrs. Stephanie Ritland for her diligence and professionalism, apparent in her role in the passage of many legislative measures considered by Congress during her time as staff attorney. CR21-229 is yet another congressional resolution appointing Mrs. Jessicalynn Reyes, former Assistant Chief Clerk of the FSM Congress who served 8 years under the wing of the late Chief Clerk, to the position of Chief Clerk of the FSM Congress.
For Governmental Operations: Congress sets the ceiling of the total funds of $100,456,668, estimated to be available for appropriation from the General Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, inclusive of Amended Compact Sector and Supplemental Education Grants through congressional resolution CR21-231; and CR21-233 is a resolution requesting the executive to make available $25,000,000 from the China grant to fund road improvements within the State of Pohnpei.
From the United Nations: CR21-232 is approving and accepting a grant in the amount of $1,000,000 from the United Nations Office for the South-South Cooperation with direct financial support from the Government of India, to support the project entitled, “Strengthening FSM’s Gender Machinery”; CR21-236 is a grant in the amount of $5,276,484 from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to fund the Micronesia Public Sector Buildings Energy Efficiency (MPSBEE) Project; and CR21-244 is a congressional resolution approving and accepting a grant in the amount of $40,000 from the United Nations Development Programme to fund the Legislative Improvement Programme for the budget period from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022; including all the terms and conditions of the grants.
Two grants from the Asian Development Bank approved and accepted by the Congress are: CR21-237 is a grant in the amount of $6,000,000 to the Federated States of Micronesia under the Pacific Disaster Resilience Program – Phase 3; and CR21-240 is grant in the amount of $12,760,000 to provide funding for the Chuuk State Water Supply and Sanitation Project; including all conditions and terms of the grants.
Under other grants, congressional resolution CR21-230 is approving and accepting a grant from the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) in the amount of $59,975 for the Blue Prosperity Micronesia Coordinator salary and associated costs, including all terms and conditions in the grant.
From compact sector funding from the United States of America, CR21-238 is approving and accepting a grant in the amount of $821,849 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Project of the FSM’s Department of Health and Social Affairs, including all the terms and conditions of the grant.
To further address and deliberate on pressing issues and matters of importance to the nation, Congress extends the 6th Regular Session beyond its scheduled end date to February 2, 2021 through congressional resolution CR21-247.
The 6th Regular Session adjourned sine-die on February 2, 2021. Unless a special session is earlier called by the Speaker, the next Regular Session of the Congress is scheduled for May 11, 2021.
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