FSM Information Services
Press Release
President Panuelo Informs Governors Brown, Newsom, & Inslee of Oregon, California, & Washington of 21st FSM Congress’ Leadership in Donating $300,000 in Wildfire Relief Efforts
PALIKIR, Pohnpei—On September 25th, 2020, His Excellency David W. Panuelo—President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)—transmitted a letter to the Honorable Kate Brown, Governor of the U.S. State of Oregon, the Honorable Gavin Newsom, Governor of the U.S. State of California, and the Honorable Jay Inslee, Governor of the U.S. State of Washington, regarding Congressional Act 21-188, which appropriated three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) in relief funding due to the recent wildfires in the United States, and was signed as Public Law 21-184 by President Panuelo on September 24th, 2020.
“Dear Governors Brown, Newsom, and Inslee,” President Panuelo wrote in his letter, “I write to you today to share what I hope is unambiguously good news in a time that seems to be in urgent need of such.”
“Oregonians, Californians, Washingtonians, and, indeed, all Americans, are our friends, allies, partners, and neighbors. We extend love to you and we care for you as family. Thus, I am proud to share with you that through the exemplary leadership shown by my esteemed colleague, the Honorable Wesley W. Simina, Speaker of the 21st FSM Congress, and the Senators of the 21st FSM Congress, our Nation has passed Congressional Act 20-188, which appropriated $100,000 each to the State of California, the State of Oregon, and the State of Washington respectively, in relief funding during the recent (and, at the time of this writing, ongoing) wildfires,” the President wrote.
The President noted that the year 2020 has been acutely difficult in the challenges it has set forth, perhaps particularly so in the United States with whom the FSM shares an Enduring Partnership, whether it’s “due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, racial tensions, Climate Change-induced wildfires, and/or arguably theatrical argumentation between adults in the news and entertainment media.”
“If we, as public servants, can make it clear to our citizens, and most especially our children,” the President continued, “that feelings are mentionable—and also manageable—then I believe we will have done a tremendous service for the mental health of our people. As you know, one of the first things that a child in a healthy family learns is trust. I want you to know that, as President of the Federated States of Micronesia, I trust that you have been attentive to the needs of Pacific Islanders in your communities, which represent some of the largest Micronesian populations in the United States, and I appreciate your care and concern very much.”
President Panuelo praised Governor Brown and the State of Oregon in their efforts towards promoting legislation that would, if passed, offer oral healthcare coverage to all citizens of the Freely Associated States, as well as in-state tuition at Oregonian colleges and universities. The President further solicited Governors’ Brown, Newsom, and Inslee to address citizens of the Freely Associated States, “to make it a point that they are always valued members of the community, and to emphasize that this year’s turmoil, like all crises, shall pass—and that we shall pass them together, united in our Enduring Partnership.”
The President’s letter to the Governors may be found here: https://gov.fm/files/September_25_2020-Letter_to_the_Governors_1.pdf
The diplomatic note to the United States regarding Congressional Act 20-188 (Public Law 21-184) may be found here: https://gov.fm/files/DFA-KAE-20-229_Appropriation_of_300000_for_Relief_Efforts_1.pdf
