[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 62 (Thursday, May 18, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H3397-H3398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICAN INSTITUTE IN TAIWAN FACILITIES ENHANCEMENT ACT
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 3707) to authorize funds for the
construction of a facility in Taipei, Taiwan suitable for the mission
of the American Institute in Taiwan, with a Senate amendment thereto,
and concur in the Senate amendment.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The Clerk read the Senate amendment, as follows:
Senate Amendment:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Institute in Taiwan
Facilities Enhancement Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 3301 et
seq.), the Congress established the American Institute in
Taiwan (hereafter in this Act referred to as ``AIT''), a
nonprofit corporation incorporated in the District of
Columbia, to carry out on behalf of the United States
Government any and all programs, transactions, and other
relations with Taiwan;
(2) the Congress has recognized AIT for the successful role
it has played in sustaining and enhancing United States
relations with Taiwan;
(3) the Taipei office of AIT is housed in buildings which
were not originally designed for the important functions that
AIT performs, whose location does not provide adequate
security for its employees, and which, because they are
almost 50 years old, have become increasingly expensive to
maintain;
(4) the aging state of the AIT office building in Taipei is
neither conducive to the safety and welfare of AIT's American
and local employees nor commensurate with the level of
contact that exists between the United States and Taiwan;
(5) AIT has made a good faith effort to set aside funds for
the construction of a new office building, but these funds
will be insufficient to construct a building that is large
and secure enough to meet AIT's current and future needs; and
(6) because the Congress established AIT and has a strong
interest in United States relations with Taiwan, the Congress
has a special responsibility to ensure that AIT's
requirements for safe and appropriate office quarters are
met.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated the sum of $75,000,000 to AIT--
(1) for plans for a new facility and, if necessary,
residences or other structures located in close physical
proximity to such facility, in Taipei, Taiwan, for AIT to
carry out its purposes under the Taiwan Relations Act; and
(2) for acquisition by purchase or construction of such
facility, residences, or other structures.
(b) Limitations.--Funds appropriated pursuant to subsection
(a) may only be used if the new facility described in that
subsection meets all requirements applicable to the security
of United States diplomatic facilities, including the
requirements in the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Anti-
Terrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.) and the Secure
Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (as
enacted by section 1000(a)(7) of Public Law 106-113; 113 Stat
1501A-451), except for those requirements which the Director
of AIT certifies to the Committee on International Relations
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate are not applicable on account of the
special status of AIT. In making such certification, the
Director shall also certify that security considerations
permit the exercise of the waiver of such requirements.
(c) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant
to subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until
expended.
Mr. BEREUTER (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that the Senate amendment be considered as read and printed in
the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Nebraska?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter)
is recognized for 1 hour.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3707, which this Member introduced, is an important
measure that enjoys wide bipartisan support. It was considered and
approved without objection by this body on March 28 of this year. The
other body subsequently approved the legislation on May 2, with two
modifications.
The amendments to H.R. 3707 approved by the other body are minor in
nature. One unnecessary introductory paragraph that refers to the
``unofficial'' nature of U.S. relations with Taiwan is deleted. In
addition, the other body added a sentence to Section 3(b) noting that
if the Director of AIT certifies that certain security requirements
related to construction of a new facility are not applicable on account
of the special status of AIT, that he shall also certify that security
considerations permit the exercise of the waiver of such requirements.
Mr. Speaker, as a newly-elected freshman Member of this body, one of
the first votes this Member cast was on passage of the Taiwan Relations
Acts of 1979 (TRA). For over 20 years, the TRA has guided U.S. foreign
policy and demonstrated our commitment to the security and well-being
of Taiwan. And, after 20 years, our unofficial relations with the
people of Taiwan are
[[Page H3398]]
stronger, more robust, and more important than ever.
The Taiwan Relations Act established the American Institute in
Taiwan, AIT, as a nonprofit corporation to conduct any and all U.S.
Government programs, transactions, and other relations with Taiwan; in
other words, to function as America's unofficial embassy.
The current AIT facilities, which consist largely of aging quonset
huts, are grossly inadequate and were not designed for the important
functions of AIT. They were built as temporary facilities almost 50
years ago and are increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain.
From the perspective of security, AIT fails miserably in its
structure. AIT is surrounded by taller buildings and lacking adequate
setback. Major cost-ineffective enhancements would be required to bring
it into compliance with security requirements.
Because of the unique status of Taiwan, the State Department is not
able under routine authority to proceed with the planning and the
construction of a new facility for AIT. The legislative branch, this
Congress, must specifically authorize and appropriate the necessary
funds.
AIT has made a good-faith effort to set aside funds for the
construction of a new office building or complex. However, this effort,
while significant, will never be sufficient to meet AIT's needs.
Therefore, H.R. 3707 authorizes the appropriation of $75 million for
planning, acquisition and construction of a new facility for the
American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
Mr. Speaker, this body has been seized with issues involving our
relations with Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. Taiwan is a
shining example of political and economic development in Asia. It has
made the transition to a fully functioning democracy.
Recently, Taiwan celebrated the successful conclusion of elections
that, for the first time in its history, in fact the first time in
Chinese history, saw the Democratic transfer of power to the opposition
party. This weekend Taiwan's newly-elected president and vice president
will be inaugurated.
In view of these developments, now is the appropriate time to send
the message of our unshakeable, long-term commitment to America's
critically important relations with Taiwan. With a new AIT facility,
the United States is delivering the message that its presence will
remain as long as it takes to assure that any reunification with the
mainland is voluntary and as a result of peaceful means.
In the next few days, this body is likely to approve permanent normal
trade relations with the People's Republic of China as part of our
support for its accession into the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Similarly, this Member is confident that this body will support
simultaneous accession of Taiwan to the WTO, an action that has been
too long delayed. We will support the accession of the PRC to the WTO
because it is in our clear national interest to do so. But, at the same
time, we will be making it clear that Taiwan merits similar
consideration in the WTO and must have membership in it. I would hope
it will come at the same session of the WTO.
This Member wishes to express his sincere appreciation to the
gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert); the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Armey), the majority leader; and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr.
Gephardt), the Democratic leader; the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Gilman), the committee chairman; the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr.
Gejdenson), the ranking Democratic member, and all of those in the
House and the Senate who have contributed to moving this important bill
forward under unanimous consent.
Mr. Speaker, this Member supports these changes to H.R. 3707 and
urges all of his colleagues to join in supporting this important
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request
of the gentleman from Nebraska?
There was no objection.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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