[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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