Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698835670292.pdf (Micronesia, Federated States of)
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

18-152 RE: C.R.

NO.

18-166/H&SA SUBJECT: APPROVING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $394,192 TO FUND THE TOBACCO CONTROL AND DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE FSM.

MAY 26, 2014 The Honorable Dohsis Halbert Speaker, Eighteenth Congress Federated States of Micronesia Fourth Regular Session, 2014 Dear Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Health and Social Affairs, to which was jointly referred C.R.

No.
No.

18-166 entitled: “A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ACCEPTING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $394,192 FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, TO FUND THE TOBACCO CONTROL AND DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE FSM, INCLUDING ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE ASSISTANCE.”, begs leave to report as follows: The intent and purpose of this resolution are expressed in its title.
The resolution would approve the acceptance of a grant award for the FSM Tobacco Control and Diabetes Control and Prevention Programs.

This program exists in all four States and at the National level.

Your Committee held a joint public hearing with the Committee on External Affairs on May 15, 2014 regarding the above captioned resolution.

This hearing also begins an extensive oversight project by your Committee.
It is the intention of the Committee to review and do oversight with SCRL 18-170/CR 18-166/H&SA Committee STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

18-152 RE: C.R.

NO.

18-166/H&SA SUBJECT: APPROVING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $394,192 TO FUND THE TOBACCO CONTROL AND DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE FSM.

MAY 26, 2014 all of the major U.S. federally funded programs during this year, in an effort to improve communication and coordination between the National and State Departments of Health.
The May 15 hearing was well attended with witnesses including the Secretary of the National Department of Health and Social Affairs, her key staff and particularly the staff of the subject program, a representative of the Kosrae State Tobacco Prevention Program, and representatives from SBOC, the Department of Justice and the Office of the President.
The first item discussed during the hearing was the Department’s need to promptly submit the correct substance and form of resolutions for its grant applications and awards.

Initially a resolution (C.R.

No.

18-142), was submitted in March 2014 regarding a grant application for the Tobacco Program, however, during the hearing in March 2014 it was determined that the grant application had already been submitted to the donor agency, and a grant award had already been made.
One again, your Committee voices its strong disapproval of the actions by the Department.

By submitting the grant application without its legally required Congress approval the Executive branch makes a mockery of our laws.

It was only on May 19, 2014 that the proper resolution in this matter was transmitted to Congress for its review.
Once again, the Committee reminds the Department that the resolutions transmitted for action should be correctly drafted and include the budgets, application information or grant award and detailed break- down of the proposed project.

Finally, the Committee has stated in the past that the grant managers in these programs must begin their work immediately when a grant is posted so the various Executive departments and the State Departments of Health can provide their input in a timely manner.
During your Committee’s trip through the four States it heard many concerns from the State Departments of Health regarding their input during the grant application process.

Members of your Committee asked the Secretary to outline the grant application process for them.

The Secretary stated that the State programs were very involved in the budget and program project planning.

The Secretary stated that the -2- STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

18-152 RE: C.R.

NO.


18-166/H&SA SUBJECT: APPROVING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $394,192 TO FUND THE TOBACCO CONTROL AND DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE FSM.

MAY 26, 2014 State budgets were submitted to the donors without any revisions at the National level.

It was only if the donor decreased from the amount requested did the National Department of Health and Social Affairs unilaterally adjust the States budgets for U.S. federally funded programs.
The States stated differently to the Committee during its April/May 2014 trip.

The States advised your Committee that the Department made adjustments without consulting them and that, in their opinion, too much of the program funds rested at the National level where few activities took place.

Regarding the need for specific programs on tobacco and diabetes control and prevention the Committee inquired as to how prevalent these problems were in our Nation.
The Department responded that more than 60% of our entire population is affected by one or both of these problems, and there has yet to be seen an indication of a reduction in these NCD type diseases.

The Secretary stated that 20-30 years ago the kind of awareness and intervention programs were not as effective and well-known.

People were somewhat aware at that time but the serious nature of these problems was not widely discussed.
As a result of people’s attitudes all those years ago decades have gone by that has allowed these diseases to reach epidemic proportions.

It will take several years for the current campaigns to have the desired effects of reduced disease numbers.

Turning to the grant award and its use during this coming year the Secretary was asked what the proportion of money remaining at the National level verses the States.

The Secretary stated that 6 employees were at the National level while 12 were in the States.
The majority of the program cost is salaries at 56%.

Not quite one third of the budget for this grant award will remain at the National level.

The Committee emphasized to the Department that it felt this was too large a portion of the program grant to remain at the National level, and in the future it should work to transition a higher percentage of the funding and jobs to the State level.
The summary for this grant award for March 29, 2014 to March 28, 2015 is as follows: -3- STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

18-152 RE: C.R.

NO.

18-166/H&SA SUBJECT: APPROVING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $394,192 TO FUND THE TOBACCO CONTROL AND DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE FSM.
MAY 26, 2014 Personnel: Supplies: Travel: Contracts:$ 30,000 Other Costs: $247,439 $ 16,523 $ 66,200 $ 34,000 $394,192 While the Committee believes that the problems of tobacco use, and the control and prevention of diabetes it would like to see more done with this program.

Specifically it questioned what type of activities are being done to reach out to the communities.
The Secretary stated that there are quarterly outreach activities being done but this was something that was just being started and the program was struggling to consistently reach all our citizens.

The oversight and review of this program was lengthy, but the Committee considered it very valuable, and again thanks all the witnesses and Members who attended the May 15 hearing.
It is clear that our Nation must work hard to prevent tobacco use and diabetes, and that this should be done primarily at the State level.

The Committee supports C.R.

No.

18-166, but asks that the National Department of Health and Social Affairs take its recommendations as stated above.

Your Committee agrees that additional funding is needed to continue the FSM Tobacco Control and Diabetes Control and Prevention Programs.
Your Committee on Health and Social Affairs is in accord with the intent and purposes of C.R.

No.

18-166, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto.

Respectfully submitted, /s/ Tony H. Otto Tony H. Otto, chairman Tiwiter Aritos, vice chairman -4- STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

18-152 RE: C.R.

NO.

18-166/H&SA SUBJECT: APPROVING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $394,192 TO FUND THE TOBACCO CONTROL AND DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE FSM.
MAY 26, 2014 Peter M. Christian, member /s/ Yosiwo P. George Yosiwo P. George, member /s/ Florencio S. Harper Florencio S. Harper, member /s/ David W. Panuelo David W. Panuelo, member Joseph J. Urusemal, member -5-