WHEREAS, the late Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal passed away on September 16, 2025, at the age of 80 years old, having been born on March 19, 1952; and

WHEREAS, the late Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal was well known in the State of Yap and throughout Micronesia as a longtime leader and statesman with extensive experience in public service and government as a beloved Congressman and the Sixth President of the Federated States of Micronesia; and

WHEREAS, the late Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal’s formal education included Xavier High School where he graduated in 1973 and obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Administration of Justice in 1976 from Rockhurst College; and

WHEREAS, the late Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal began his public service in 1981 as a teacher at Outer Island High School and worked to support his students until 1987; and

WHEREAS, the late Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal was first elected to the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia in 1987 as an at-large member and has served the people of the FSM and specifically as representative of the State of Yap until his passing; and

WHEREAS, the late Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal was elected by his colleagues as President of the Nation in 2003, where he served with distinction, practicality and humbleness, as befitting and embodying a true Yapese spirit in his dedication to the people; and

WHEREAS, the late Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal’s many contributions to his island, community, the State of Yap, and the Nation are too numerous and varied to be specifically numbered and acknowledged, he will be remembered as a beloved statesman and an honored son of Yap; and

WHEREAS, during his many decades of dedicating his life to the betterment of the State of Yap, he had earned the respect of the people throughout the Nation, and he will be missed by the leaders and the people of the State of Yap as a man who had made significant contributions to the political, economical and social development of the State of Yap and the FSM; and

WHEREAS, the members of this Legislature join the family, relatives and friends of the late Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal in their moment of sadness and sorrow; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Eleventh Legislature of the State of Yap, Third Regular Session, 2025, that the Legislature, on behalf of the government and the people of the State of Yap, hereby expresses its deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives and friends of the late Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal for his untimely passing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the family of the late Honorable Joseph J. Urusemal; the Speaker of the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia; the Yap Congressional Delegation; the Governor of the State of Yap; the Chairman of the Council of Pilung; and the Chairman of the Council of Tamol.