PHOTO: Some Lawmakers during the closing plenary, courtesy of the Press Bureau
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia- Ahead of the Christmas celebrations, the Legislature has adjourned its Special Session without passing the 2022/2023 national budget.
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate adjourned on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 to resume the next regular session of the 54th Legislature in January.
The Executive Mansion earlier submitted a US$785.5 million draft budget to the lawmakers for passage.
According to the Speaker, Dr. Bhofal Chambers, that august body conducted a total of (33) Thirty Three Sessions; including (18) Eighteen, (12) Twelve Executive/Secret and (3) Three appearances of Ministers or Directors.
Speaker Chambers
Giving a statistical report Tuesday, December 21, 2021 during its 20th Day Sitting of the Special Session of the Honorable House of Representatives of the 54th National Legislature, Speaker Bhofal Chambers disclosed that a total of (39) Thirty Nine Bills were introduced.
Speaker Chambers said of the (39) Thirty Nine Bills, (23) Twenty Three were passed by the members of that august body during the period under review.
The House Speaker further clarified that (15) Fifteen of the bills passed emanated from the Executive Branch of the Liberian Government, (7) Seven from the House of Representatives and a Joint Resolutions also from the House.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chambers has revealed that a total of (16) Sixteen Bills are currently in committee room; adding that (5) Five stems from the House, (7) Seven from the Executive, (2) Two from the Liberian Senate; including a petition and a communication from President George Weah for legislative consideration.
The Speaker used the occasion to thank members of the House of Representatives for their tireless efforts in working in the best interest of the Liberian people.
The lawmakers are expected to resume normal legislative activities on the second working Monday of January 2022 in keeping with the constitution of Liberia.
New Representatives appointed to committees
At the same time, House Speaker Chambers has appointed newly elected Nimba County District # 1 Representative, Samuel Brown as a member of the Committees on Youth and Sports, Public Utilities, Human and Civil Rights.
Another incoming Representative, Finda Gborie-Lassana of Bomi County District #1 Representative was also appointed on the Committees on Transport, Modernization and Resettlement.
Grand Gedeh County District # 1 Representative Madison Gwion Sr, was appointed on the Committees on Hydrocarbon, National Security and Modernization respectively.