[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 243 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 243
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
Concerning participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONCERNING THE PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION (WHO).
(a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Good health is important to every citizen of the world
and access to the highest standards of health information and
services is necessary to improve the public health.
(2) Direct and unobstructed participation in international
health cooperation forums and programs is beneficial for all
parts of the world, especially with today's greater potential
for the cross-border spread of various infectious diseases such
as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, and
malaria.
(3) Taiwan's population of 23,500,000 people is greater
than that of three-fourths of the member states already in the
World Health Organization (WHO).
(4) Taiwan's achievements in the field of health are
substantial, including one of the highest life expectancy
levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates comparable
to those of western countries, the eradication of such
infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and the plague, and
the first to eradicate polio and provide children with
hepatitis B vaccinations.
(5) The United States Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and its Taiwan counterpart agencies have enjoyed
close collaboration on a wide range of public health issues.
(6) In recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness to
assist financially and technically in international aid and
health activities supported by the WHO.
(7) On January 14, 2001, an earthquake, registering between
7.6 and 7.9 on the Richter scale, struck El Salvador. In
response, the Taiwanese government sent 2 rescue teams,
consisting of 90 individuals specializing in firefighting,
medicine, and civil engineering. The Taiwanese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs also donated $200,000 in relief aid to the
Salvadoran Government.
(8) The World Health Assembly has allowed observers to
participate in the activities of the organization, including
the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1974, the Order of
Malta, and the Holy See in the early 1950s.
(9) The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review,
declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in
appropriate international organizations.
(10) Public Law 106-137 required the Secretary of State to
submit a report to the Congress on efforts by the executive
branch to support Taiwan's participation in international
organizations, in particular the WHO.
(11) In light of all benefits that Taiwan's participation
in the WHO can bring to the state of health not only in Taiwan,
but also regionally and globally, Taiwan and its 23,500,000
people should have appropriate and meaningful participation in
the WHO.
(12) On May 11, 2001, President Bush stated in his letter
to Senator Murkowski that the United States ``should find
opportunities for Taiwan's voice to be heard in international
organizations in order to make a contribution, even if
membership is not possible'', further stating that his
Administration ``has focused on finding concrete ways for
Taiwan to benefit and contribute to the WHO''.
(13) In his speech made in the World Medical Association on
May 14, 2002, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy
Thompson announced ``America's work for a healthy world cuts
across political lines. That is why my government supports
Taiwan's efforts to gain observership status at the World
Health Assembly. We know this is a controversial issue, but we
do not shrink from taking a public stance on it. The people of
Taiwan deserve the same level of public health as citizens of
every nation on earth, and we support them in their efforts to
achieve it''.
(14) The Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan, in
response to an appeal from the United Nations and the United
States for resources to control the spread of HIV/AIDS, donated
$1,000,000 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria in December 2002.
(b) Plan.--The Secretary of State is authorized--
(1) to initiate a United States plan to endorse and obtain
observer status for Taiwan at the annual week-long summit of
the World Health Assembly in May 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland;
and
(2) to instruct the United States delegation to Geneva to
implement that plan.
(c) Report.--Not later than 14 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to Congress
in unclassified form describing the action taken under subsection (b).
Passed the Senate May 1, 2003.
Attest:
Secretary.
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 243
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
Concerning participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization.