PALIKIR, POHNPEI. April 6, 2020 – Speaker Wesley W. Simina has called for the first-ever remote, online Special Session of the 21st Congress, in response to the President’s March 14, 2020, Public Health Emergency declaration - as mandated by the Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia.
According to the FSM Constitution Article X, Section 9(c), within 30 days after the declaration of emergency, the FSM Congress shall convene to “consider revocation, amendment, or extension of the declaration.”
The Congress is expected to discuss issues pertaining to the amended health declaration and the need for measures in light of developing events after the March 14th amended declaration.
In his letter to President David W. Panuelo, the Speaker noted that under the present circumstances in which the States are in lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 from reaching the FSM shores and given its mandate under the FSM Constitution, the Congress decided upon a solution to simultaneously address both issues – a remote, online Special Session.
Speaker Simina, has therefore called the Fifth Special Session of the 21st Congress to convene online for 5-days beginning on Monday- April 13 through Friday – April 17, 2020. Aside from Floor Leader Singkoro Florencio Harper and Chairman Paliknoa K. Welly who will join in from the FSM Consulate Office in Guam, all other Members will be joining the session from their respective Delegation offices. The Pohnpei Delegation will be joining in from the Congress Public Hearing Room in Palikir.
Considering that the FSM is spread across two time zones, the 5th Special Session will convene at 11:00 a.m. for the States of Kosrae and Pohnpei, and at 10:00a.m. in the States of Chuuk and Yap.
With respect to the current advisories from the Pohnpei State Government and the FSM National Government discouraging public gathering and encouraging social distancing, the 5th Special Session of the 21st Congress is closed to the general public.
The public is however welcomed to follow the daily sessions which will be streamed live and available for viewing at the Congress website: www.cfsm.gov.fm.
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