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Special Session to finalize national budget

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): June 28, 2002 - The Twelfth Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia convened on June 24 2002, for its Third Special Session to finalize the national budget and tackle matters pending in Congress.

Prior to the convening of the Special Session, Speaker Jack Fritz had informed President Leo A. Falcam, that the Special Session would be a seven (7) day session to basically consider "the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget for the National Government, the nomination of Mr. Dennis Yamase for the FSM Associate Justice position, and other important matters needing Congress action."

The Special Session is now in its fourth day of deliberation during which the following issues were addressed:

• trans-shipment of mox-fuel through FSM waters;
• inconsistencies in revenue projection for FY 2003;
• re-routing of CIP appropriations.

The Committee assigned to Wait on the President addressed their concerns on the above issues with a proposal for a Leadership meeting when the President returns to Palikir for further discussions on the financial crisis in Chuuk State.

The following Bills and Resolutions had also been introduced and deliberated on:

Bills:

• C.B. 12-108: enactment of a new Title 37 of the FSM Code, establish an insurance law for FSM;

• C.B. 12-109: amendment to Title 12 of FSM Code, adding new section requiring regulations implementing joint law agreements;

• C.B. 12-110: amend P.L. 10-120, reallocate certain funds to ED NO.1 in Chuuk;

• C.B. 12-111: appropriate $59,000. from the GF for medical expenses;

• C.B. 12-112: appropriate $45,000. for food for Micro-Games 2002;

• C.B. 12-113: appropriate funds as FSM's portion of revenue sharing for Chuuk.

Resolutions:

• CR12-43: Nomination of Dennis Yamase as an Associate Justice for FSM Supreme Court;

• CR12-44: Concerns shipment of hazardous materials through FSM EEZ.

The Third Special Session of the FSM Congress is expected to continue into the first week of July.