Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698746738956.pdf (Micronesia, Federated States of)
TWENTY-THIRD CONGRESS Federated States of Micronesia Senator Joseph J. Urusemal SUMMARY State of Yap | 4-year, At-large BA, Administration of Justice (1976) elected to 5th CFSM (1987 – 2003); returned to 15th CFSM (2007 - ) 6th President of the FSM (2003) DOB: March 19, 1952 COMMITTEES Chairman, Yap Congressional Delegation Chairman: of Education Member: External Affairs; Health and Social Affairs; Transportation and Communications; Ways and Means.
Seated to the Fifth Congress in 1987 DOB: October 28, 1949 The Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal, is the four-year, at- large representative of the State of Yap to the Twenty Third Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia.

He is the Chairman for the Congressional Standing Committee on Education and concurrently sits as the Chairman of the Yap Delegation to the FSM Congress.
He is a member on the committees on: External Affairs; Health and Social Affairs; Transportation and Communications and the Committee on Ways and Means.

- Ways and Means On May 11, 2003, he was elected and sworn in as the Sixth President of the Federated States of Micronesia and as such was the Head of its Government as well as Head of State for the Federated States of Micronesia until 2007.
Prior to top post of the Nation, Senator Urusemal had been a Member of the Congress since being seated to the Fifth FSM Congress in May of 1987 and re-elected for the next 16 consecutive Congress with the last 12 serving as the Floor Leader.
A position that earned him the reputation of being very soft-spoken but with a resonating determination that has been instrumental in shaping the nations policies based on his strong principles of traditional values and clear perception of the needs of the nation versus its limited natural resources.

Senator Urusemal was born on March 19, 1952, on Woleai one of the many outlying islands in the State of Yap.
His childhood and early schooling was done on Woleai after which he went to Chuuk State (formerly Truk) to attend the prestigious Xavier High School.

In 1973, he graduated from Xavier and went on to the United States in pursued of higher education at the Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri.

In 1976, Urusemal received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Administration of Justice.

His degree was immediately applied to practical use working for the Jackson County Department of Correction.
He worked for the government of Jackson County for the next six years until his return to Micronesia in 1982.

He returned to Yap and worked with the State Department of Education serving as a teacher and counselor to the Outer Islands High School.

During his tenure, Urusemal had served on the Education Steering Committee where he was instrumental in the establishment of Yap State Education Five Year Plan.
In 1987, Senator Urusemal was elected as Yap State's at-large or four-year representative to the Fifth Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia.

He held concurrent membership on the Standing Committees of: Health Education and Social Affairs; Resources and Development; and External Affairs.

Since his election to the Nation’s top legislative Body, Urusemal retained his seat in the subsequent FSM Congress until his election in 1991 as the Floor Leader of the Seventh FSM Congress.
He held consecutive membership on the following Standing Committees; Health, Education, and Social Affairs; Resources and Development; Transportation and Communication; and Judiciary and Governmental Operations.
During the Seventh through the Twelfth Congress, Urusemal maintained his role as Floor Leader of the FSM Congress along with his membership on the same four Standing Committees: Health, Education, and Social Affairs; Resources and Development; Transportation and Communication; and Judiciary and Governmental Operations.
Upon completion of his term at the Executive Branch, Urusemal was re-elected to and returned as the State of Yap’s at-large representative to the 15th Congress and has since maintained his role.

Senator Urusemal is married to Olania Latileilam of Satawal Island and they have four children: B.J., Tarsis, Craig and Elenita.