PALIKIR, POHNPEI. February 7, 2020– Week two of its Third Regular Session, the 21st Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia passed a supplemental budget for the national government, assistance for Corona Virus response efforts, and addressed pending nominations, among others.
Congressional Act (CA) 21-82, appropriated supplemental funding of $7 million for the operations of the FSM National Government, Office of the Public Auditor, Grants, Subsidies and Contributions, and Capital and Human Resources Development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020.
The Congress passedCA 21-78, to amend previous laws to realign certain funds previously appropriated to the Department of Foreign Affairs in order to secure $4.5 million for the purchase of facility to house the FSM Embassy in Tokyo, Japan.
Within the same Act, the Congress redirected a funding of $450,000 previously appropriated for an x-ray screening equipment baggage and carousel for the Yap State Airport to instead be deposited into the Yap State Subaccount of the FSM Trust Fund.
Though CA 21-83, the Congress appropriated $100,000 for the purpose of funding response efforts ongoing in China due to the recent Coronavirus outbreak, and for other purposes.
The remaining Acts of Week Two of the 3rd Regular Session of the 21st Congress are amendments to certain laws to change the use of funds previously appropriated for public projects and social programs in the states, and they included:
CA 21-76, changed use of funds previously appropriated for public projects and social programs in Chuuk State;
CA 21-77, changed the use of funds previously appropriated for priority infrastructure projects and programs in Chuuk State;
CA 21-79, changed the use of funds previously appropriated for public projects and social programs in the state of Chuuk and Pohnpei;
CA 21-80, changed the use of funds previously appropriated for public projects and social programs for the states of Chuuk, Kosrae and Pohnpei; and
Finally, the Congress passed CA 21-81, to change the allottee of funds previously appropriated for priority infrastructure projects along with other projects and programs in Pohnpei State.
In addition to the Congressional Acts, at the end of its Week Two, the Congress also adopted the following resolutions:
Congressional Resolution (CR) 21-97, to confirm Vincent Tafileluw to represent the state of Yap on the Board of Directors of the FSM Social Security Administration;
Through CR 21-98, the Congress approved and accepted a $15 million grant from the Asian Development Bank to fund the Renewable Energy Development Project in the FSM; and
The Congress adopted two grant resolutions from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and they are:
CR 21-99, to approve and accept a grant of $821,849 to fund the project entitled, “To Accelerate the Prevention and Control of HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Disease and Tuberculosis in the FSM and the U.S. Pacific Islands; and
CR 21-101, to approve and accept a grant of $129,645 to fund the Maternal and Child Health Program in the FSM.
The Third Regular Session of the 21st Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia, like all sessions of the Congress, is open to all the interested public.
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