FSM Information Services
September 19, 2026
Palikir, Pohnpei — His Excellency Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), met with the Committee to Wait on the President following the opening of the Fifth Regular Session of the 24th FSM Congress.
President Simina was joined by Vice President Aren B. Palik and members of the Executive Cabinet. The Committee was led by the Honorable Andy P. Choor and included Senators Johnson A. Asher, Jermy W. Mudong, and Perpetua S. Konman.
The discussion began with the Fiscal Year 2027 national budget, with both the Committee and the Executive Branch emphasizing its importance and the need for timely consideration. With hearings scheduled throughout the session, President Simina confirmed that Cabinet members and key staff would remain available to provide information and support the deliberations.
Other priorities included proposed accounting and monitoring requirements for Compact funds provided to the states as subrecipients. Timely passage of the measure is needed to ensure continued access to Compact funding in Fiscal Year 2027. Cybersecurity was also discussed following a recent cyber fraud incident, with Cabinet members emphasizing the need for congressional support for the pending cybersecurity bills. Support was also sought for the Google subsea cable project, which would replace the HANTRU-1 cable and strengthen the FSM’s telecommunications infrastructure.
President Simina shared that fuel supplies remain stable through the efforts of the FSM Petroleum Corporation but emphasized the need to maintain the stabilization mechanism for another 12 months amid continued global uncertainty. The request is supported by a resolution adopted by the national and state governments during the Fifth Chief Executive Council meeting in Chuuk in August 2026.
Other matters before Congress included a submitted bill to support activities commemorating the FSM’s 40th anniversary of independence; nominations for Associate Justice of the FSM Supreme Court, Consul General in Portland, and members of the National Seabed Resources Authority; an Asian Development Bank grant for water security; and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration funding for the second phase of improvements to Kosrae International Airport.
The Committee noted that hearings on the Marine Spatial Planning bill had been completed in three states, with the remaining hearing to be held in Pohnpei. President Simina thanked the Committee for its work and emphasized the bill’s importance in strengthening the sustainable management of the FSM’s ocean resources.
The Committee also received an update on the recent illness outbreak in Chuuk, where the situation has stabilized while investigations into its cause continue. The meeting further covered C.B. No. 24-120 concerning the citizenship status of FSM veterans of the United States Armed Forces, with the Committee expressing appreciation to the Office of Veterans Affairs for its efforts to help veterans access medical services.
On the Yap Defense Site Project, President Simina shared that his recent discussions with the Yap State leadership had been positive. Both sides recognized the project’s potential benefits while emphasizing the need to carefully address its cultural, social, and environmental impacts.
President Simina extended the administration’s appreciation to the Speaker through the Committee and thanked its members for the constructive exchange. The Simina–Palik Administration remains committed to working closely with Congress to advance national priorities and address the needs of the people throughout the FSM.
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