FSM Information Services
Press Release
President Panuelo Advocates for Capital Projects in Committee to Wait on the President
PALIKIR, Pohnpei—His Excellency David W. Panuelo, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), called on the 21st Congress of the FSM to open its 2nd Special Session on July 16th, 2019 with initial outcomes including the seating of two new senators. After the opening of the session, President Panuelo and the Honorable Yosiwo P. George, Vice President of the FSM, received the Committee to Wait chaired by the Honorable Esmond B. Moses, with committee members the Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal, the Honorable Paliknoa K. Welly, the Honorable Victor V. Gouland, and the Honorable Aren B. Palik, to discuss their agenda for this session of Congress.
“I called this special session because we have a lot going on,” President Panuelo began, describing what occurred during the 24th Micronesian Islands Forum (MIF) and the current status on preparations for the Joint National Inauguration Ceremony. “The MIF can become the most important bloc for the Micronesian region,” President Panuelo said. “The FSM volunteered to host the next [25th MIF] meeting in our Capitol.”
A significant component of the Committee to Wait dealt with the Executive Branch’s supplemental budget request. By law, before every session of Congress begins the Department of Finance & Administration delivers a revenue projection report which includes the total amount of funding available for appropriation. At the beginning of this session of Congress approximately $5,400,000 is available, of which President Panuelo has requested $3,659,620. The bulk of this request, $2,624,650, is for Capital Projects.
“I was thinking it would be less,” President Panuelo said, “But there are some big ticket items.” These big ticket items include the drydocking of the MV Chief Mailo, at $1,221,650; the repair of the MV Caroline Voyager, at $500,000; the Palikir Water System project at $653,000; and the Faichuk Post Office at $100,000.
The President also advised that the submission of nominations for Executive Branch advice and consent positions will occur this session, to include some members of Cabinet.
The meeting concluded with President Panuelo re-emphasizing his commitment to collaborate very closely with the Congress for the benefit of the FSM’s citizens. “I look forward to hearing from the Congress on [topics of importance] so that we can work together, and discuss issues openly with constructive means of finding solutions and going forward,” the President said.
