Resolutions Adopted Honoring Late President Haglelgam, Confirming Nominations and Approving Grants

PALIKIR, POHNPEI. The 23rd Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia adjourned its 5th Regular Session on October 2, 2024, with the adoption of the remaining resolutions on its calendar that included condolences to the family of the late President Haglelgam, crucial nominations, compact sector grants and others.

Distinguished among the adopted measures is Congressional Resolution (CR) 23-237, which was adopted to express sincere condolences and sadness of the FSM Congress at the passing of the former member of both the Congress of Micronesia and the FSM Congress and the Nation’s Second President, the late John Richard Haglelgam. The resolution reflected on how he served the Nation “honorably since its founding, through a long and distinguished career in government services and academia.”  It further highlighted how the late President played a “pivotal role in the drafting and ratification of the FSM Constitution in 1978, helping to lay the foundation for the Nation’s independence.” The late President Haglelgam represented the state of Yap to the Congress of Micronesia and became a member of the new FSM Congress from the First through the Fourth Congress, serving as its Floor Leader. In 1987, the Fifth FSM Congress elected the late Haglelgam to become the Second President of the FSM.

The late Haglelgam completed his term as President and spent the next 31 years at the College of Micronesia where he was a respected educator who taught courses and engaged in research related to governance and Micronesian history. He was a traditional leader on the Council of Tamol in Yap when he passed away at the age of 75, on September 12, 2024.

Also notable is the adoption of CR 23-226, which requested the President to inquire, through the JEMCO process, the status of the Disaster Assistance Emergency Fund (DAEF).  As part of the previous Compact agreement, matching funds in the amount of $200,000 from the signatory governments of the FSM and the US were to be deposited into the DAEF beginning each fiscal year from 2005 to 2023. The purpose of the resolution is to effectuate transfer of any residual funds as necessary to fulfill the provisions of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement (FPSA), which requires full ownership of the funds of which was to pass to the FSM at the end of fiscal year 2023.

Through the adoption of CR 23-225, the Congress accepted a $56,000,000 grant from the World Bank International Development Association (WB IDA), to provide funding for the Pacific Island Regional Oceanscape Program – 2nd Phase for Economic Resilience (PROPER), including all the terms and conditions of the assistance. The purpose of the grant is to help countries improve their sustainable management of ocean fisheries and to strengthen institutions responsible for conservation.

To enable passage of the National Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, the Congress had adopted CR 23-228, to set the ceiling of the total estimated funds in the amount of $125,441,152. This amount includes domestic revenues, Compact sector grants, the Compact Infrastructure sector grants, and the Compact sector IMF grant which were made available for appropriation from the FSM General Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025.

The following nominations are to fill vacancies within the executive cabinet, commissions, and various boards:

The Congress confirmed the Administration’s final Cabinet post through the adoption of CR 23-229, which confirmed the nomination of Leonito M. Bacalando Jr., Esq. to serve as the Secretary of the FSM Department of Justice (DOJ). Bacalando is a member of the FSM Bar Association in good standing, has served as Chief of Law of the FSM DOJ since 2008, and since the beginning of the Administration has served as the Department’s acting Secretary.

Through the adoption of CR 23-194, the Congress confirmed Heinrick Stevenson to be the National Election Commissioner of Pohnpei State based on his requisite qualifications.

Another successful nomination was through the adoption of CR 23-208, in which the Congress confirmed Cindy Siren Mori to serve on the Board of Directors of the FSM Petroleum Corporation, representing the National Government. Mrs. Siren-Mori has work experience in public administration and in general management positions for private companies and she was a delegate of the 4th FSM Constitutional Convention.

For the nominations to the FSM Banking Board of Directors, the Congress adopted the following resolutions to confirm two members: CR 23-202 for Skenson U. Erwin and CR 23-222 for Reed B. Oliver.

For the FSM National Scholarship Board, the Congress confirmed two of its members through the adoption of the following resolutions:  CR 23-215, for Alik Jackson to represent Kosrae State and CR 23-221, for John Akapito as representative of Chuuk State.

The following resolutions approved US Federal program grants from the United States Department of Health and Human Resources.

The Congress adopted the following resolutions which approved and accepted grants from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to support ongoing programs in health and human services in the Nation:

  • CR 23-217, is for a grant of $309,339 to fund the project entitled “Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC)” and its related services;
  • CR 23-219, is for a grant of $114,354 to fund and support the Prevention Health and Health Services Block Grant;
  • CR23-223, is for a grant of $780,000 to support and fund the FSM Immunization and Vaccines for Children Program; and
  • CR 23-227 is for a grant of $777,398 to fund the “Component A-Strengthening the Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems in the FSM” project; including all the terms and conditions of the assistance.

While the remaining resolutions are also for grants from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, they are through the Department’s extended programs and services.  CR 23-220 is a grant of $1,250,000 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, to fund and support the FSM Strategic Prevention Framework-Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) project, including all the terms and conditions of the assistance. Congressional Resolution 23-224 is a grant of $169,703 from the Health Resources and Services Administration, to fund and support the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access New Area Expansion Project, including all the terms and conditions of the assistance.

The Fifth Regular Session of the 23rd Congress was extended by an extra day to adjourn on October 2, 2024.  Unless a Special Session is called earlier by the Speaker or the President, according to Public Law 13-59, the next Regular Session of the Congress will be on January 10, 2025.

 

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