Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698744668363.pdf (Micronesia, Federated States of)
SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

20-09 RE: COMMITTEE TO WAIT ON THE PRESIDENT MAY 14, 2018 The Honorable Wesley W. Simina Speaker, Twentieth Congress Federated States of Micronesia Fourth Regular Session, 2018 Dear Mr. Speaker: Your Committee to Wait on the President, consisting of members Paliknoa K. Welly, Joseph J. Urusemal, Ferny S. Perman, and Victor V. Gouland was duly appointed on May 11, 2018.

Paliknoa K. Welly was designated as the chairman.


The Committee met with the President and Vice-President on May 11, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Chairman Welly greeted the President and Vice-President, and key members of the Executive on behalf of Congress, and thanked them for the opportunity to meet.

Chairman Welly reported that Congress was in session and was ready to transact business.

Your Committee stated the main purpose of this regular session was to begin its work on the FY2019 budget.
The President greeted the Committee, and he concurred that Congress give priority during this session to the budget process for FY19.

However, the President stated that there was a mid-year supplemental budget request to fund operations and other needs.
The President assured the Committee that all the relevant members of each of his departments would be on Pohnpei and available during the session for hearings, with the exception of a few days where some cabinet members would be accompanying him to an important regional meeting.

SCRL 20-72/COMMITTEE TO WAIT ON THE PRESIDENT SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORT NO.
20-09 RE: COMMITTEE TO WAIT ON THE PRESIDENT MAY 14, 2018 The President stated that there would be a supplemental budget request transmitted shortly for Congress to take action on this session.

Current revenue projections have been transmitted to Congress showing approximately $3.7 million available for appropriation.

The President further stated that the World Bank has indicated to the FSM that all the conditions have now been met to trigger the release of reimbursement.
This reimbursement should be with the FSM this month and likely by next week.

The World Bank is currently processing the release of this money.

During the meeting the President stated that the flooding and mudslides in Pohnpei have been designated a disaster rather than an emergency.

The request for assistance to the National Government came after the crisis, and hence it is no longer an emergency.

Under the designation of disaster funding has to be requested from the Congress.
During the course of discussions the President emphasized his desire to push forward in preparing for the Amended Compact termination of funding, primarily for health and education.

To this end, he proposes that audits be done of the U.S. federally funded health programs to see where there is overlap and redundancies.

He stated that SPC has expressed interest in funding a consultant to do this survey.

The programs and initiatives for education should also be reviewed.
Next the President turned to the foreign investment bill that remains pending with Congress.

He reiterated that defining the functions of the National and State Governments would strength the FSM as a potential site for investment.

The Secretary of Education spoke regarding a proposed regional vocational and technical school.

The budget proposed for this would be $2.7 million for renovation of existing buildings and the first years operating budget.
He stated there is a growing need to provide alternate skills training for those young people who do not go on to college.

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20-09 RE: COMMITTEE TO WAIT ON THE PRESIDENT MAY 14, 2018 The President then turned his attention to the upcoming Micro Games.

He stated he was reluctant to have a lump sum amount included in the National budget.

He believed rather that requests should go to individual state delegations for funding.
The individual states should be responsible for their athletes and the funding should be allotted to the governors of the four states.

There was discussion of the HI, which has been in dry dock for approximately a month now.

The ship has had a few additional maintenance items that needed attention and should be back in country shortly.

Also, the second Y-12 should be received shortly.


Finally, the President requested that the Congress take action on the nominations pending before it, particularly the nomination for associate justice of the FSM Supreme Court.

The meeting concluded with mutual agreement to move forward on the above issues in a timely and cooperative manner.

Your Committee warmly thanked the President for his time and the lunch provided during the meeting.

The Committee is submitting a brief report at this time.
Your Committee kindly requests the members address any further questions regarding the priority issues for this session to the members of the Committee during the discussion of this report at session.

Respectfully submitted, /s/ Paliknoa K. Welly Paliknoa K. Welly, chairman /s/ Joseph J. Urusemal Joseph J. Urusemal member /s/ Victor Gouland Victor Gouland, member /s/ Ferny S. Perman Ferny S. Perman, member -3-