Congress Adopts Resolutions for Ongoing Health Programs

News and Updates

 

 PALIKIR, POHNPEI. April 14, 2020 – Day 2 of its first-ever online session, the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia adopted measures for the Nation’s ongoing public health programs and a resolution to provide for online Congress sessions.

 Given the COVID-19 preventative lock-down measures by the states, Congressional Resolution (CR) 21-132, is adopted to amend the Congress Rules of Procedure, specifically Section 3 of Rule 1 to “explicitly provide for the ability to have a remote session via teleconference or online.”  According to the Rules, the Congress meets in Pohnpei State or the others states through resolution at a place designated by the Speaker.

 The amendment to the Rules states that “… in extraordinary circumstances which prevents members of ‘CFSM’ from meeting in the same locale, the ‘CFSM’ may meet remotely via teleconference or online with members in different locations.”

 To meet the Nation’s ongoing public health programs, the Congress adopted the following resolutions:

 CR 21-135, to approve and accept a $1.5 million grant from the World Health Organization to fund and support the various health and social programs in the FSM, and to carry out the Joint Work Plan or the FSM-WHO Country Cooperation Strategy 2018-2022;

 CR 21-137, to approve and accept a $397,192 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to support and fund the Tobacco Control and Diabetes Prevention programs in the FSM; and

 CR 21-139, to approve and accept a $368,300 grant from the U.S. DHHS, Public Health Services Administration, to support and fund the FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs Family Planning Program.  

 Following the adoption of the resolutions, the Congress went into recess to reconvene the next day.

 With respect to the current advisories from both the FSM National Government and the Pohnpei State 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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