Second State-National Leadership Conference Scheduled

Press Release #0409-47
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
April 30, 2009

President Manny Mori is inviting the Governors and Legislative leaders from the four FSM States and FSM Congress to convene the second State-National Leadership Conference (SNLC) in Palikir on May 12th through the 15th, 2009.  Based on the success of the first SNLC and the need for continued communication and consensus of the governors and legislative leaders on issues that can be worked on during the 16th Congress session in May, the President believes that this collective group can help make progress on some issues that need to be addressed.  So far on the agenda are the topics of Social Security, Foreign Investment, Food Security, HAFSM – Humanitarian Assistance, Manpower Development and Guidelines on what each state will be responsible for during an emergency situation.  Each state is also being asked to bring up to two additional agenda items for the May meeting.

The first SNLC was held on February 4-5, 2009 at the Central Facilities in Palikir, Pohnpei and was convened pursuant to Congress Resolution No 15-191 and agreed upon between President Mori and Speaker Figir.  The principal purpose of the SNLC was to discuss and to reach broad agreement amongst the executive and legislative leaders of the states and the national government on several issues arising in Congress’ consideration of the appropriation process for Compact Infrastructure Sector grants.  The major outcomes of the first SNLC allowed for the draft of a Congressional Bill to provide for the appropriation of $46 million worth of Infrastructure Sector Grants that was eventually passed by Congress, that the Japan non-Project Scheme would be dedicated to the energy sector, and that a portion of State Compact Infrastructure sector grants would be used as matching funds for State Airport Improvement Projects.

Because certain agenda items could not be covered during the first SNLC, the group recognized the need for further nation-wide “all-of-government” consultation on other important issues of interests and the Conference agreed that the President will convene the next SNLC with the resumption of the next Congress Session.  On behalf of the Executive Branch, the Department of Research and Development will once again act as Secretariat for this conference