PALIKIR, Pohnpei, January 10, 2025 – The 6th Regular Session of the 23rd Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) commenced today with eight members present. Following the opening of the session, the Committee to Wait on the President met with His Excellency President Wesley W. Simina at the Office of the President. President Simina welcomed the committee and shared key national priorities for the session, emphasizing collaboration with Congress to advance legislative and developmental goals.
President Simina outlined several legislative priorities aimed at strengthening the nation’s governance and development framework. These include the Electronic Transaction Bill, which seeks to promote a secure framework for digital transactions, and the FSM Cybersecurity Bill, designed to enhance preparedness against cyber threats. President Simina also highlighted the FSM Marine Spatial Planning Act of 2025 to improve marine resource management, alongside the FY 2025 Supplemental Budget to address urgent funding needs. Amendments to the Independent Prosecutor Law and a proposal to decentralize Program Management Offices (PMOs) to empower state-level operations were also discussed. Additionally, the President pointed to the proposed adjustment of the Compact Fund distribution formula to allocate 8% to the national government and the implementation of the constitutional amendment relating to the distribution of fishing fees to streamline resource allocation to states.
The President highlighted the submission of the Strategic Development Plan (SDP) and Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP), which were unanimously endorsed at the December 2024 State and National Leadership Conference (SNLC). These documents, critical requirements for securing Compact funding, outline the FSM’s long-term development priorities and infrastructure needs. With a March 2025 deadline for submission under the amended Compact of Free Association, President Simina called on Congress to ensure timely action to meet this milestone.
Other critical reforms include updates to the MiCare Health Insurance Plan to expand eligibility and improve cost-sharing provisions, as well as proposed amendments to education policies to prescribe kindergarten as the start of elementary education and make five years of age the compulsory starting age for school. Additional legislative priorities include labor policy changes allowing overtime pay for NORMA employees, shark conservation measures, and compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
President Simina also emphasized the importance of addressing grants, nominations, and inter-agency coordination to meet FSM’s developmental goals. He encouraged Congress to expedite critical legislation to strengthen economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social services, ensuring tangible benefits for the people of FSM.
The meeting concluded on a positive note and mutual agreement on the need for close collaboration between the Executive and Legislative branches.
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