Washington, D.C. — On March 7th, Ambassador Jackson T. Soram of the Federated States of Micronesia to the United States, paid a courtesy call on Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, representative of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands at the latter’s office at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C..
This call marked Ambassador Soram’s first official engagement in his capacity as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary after his Letters of Credence were accepted by the President of the United States Joseph Biden, Jr. on the 27th of February 2024.
The meeting proceeded with the Ambassador thanking Congressman Sablan for his unwavering support of the Compact of Free Association Act of 2023. After months of delays and uncertainties, the COFA bill was recently passed by a massive affirmative vote by the U.S. House of Representatives, and now awaits passage in the Senate. Congressman Sablan acknowledged and commended the work of Ambassador Joseph Yun and Congressman Bruce E. Westerman who were instrumental in the COFA negotiation and legislative passing, respectively.
The discussions then shifted towards other matters of continued support and mutual interests, more specifically on the new provitions of Veterans Affairs in the COFA bill and reinstating Peace Corps’ engagement in the Federated States of Micronesia. The Congressman reiterated his continued support on both matters.
The latter encouraged Ambassador Soram and the Embassy to engage more in awareness and understanding of the Freely Associated States (FAS) and the Compacts of Free Association in the U.S. Congress. Ambassador Soram expressed gratitude for the Congressman’s observations and recommendations.
The courtesy visit to Congressman Sablan concluded with farewells and arrangements to meet over coffee and bothh parties expressed commitments of support. Deputy Chief of Mission Teresa M. Filepin accompanied Ambassador Soram and was staffed by First Secretary Raleigh Welly and First Secretary Nena Waguk.
