[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 9, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4584-S4585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

  Mr. ENSIGN. I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 428 and that 
the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 428) concerning participation of Taiwan in the 
     World Health Organization.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.


                           Amendment No. 647

  Mr. ENSIGN. Senator Hatch has an amendment at the desk. I ask for its 
consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Ensign], for Mr. Hatch, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 647.

  The amendment is as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     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 larger than 
     that of \3/4\ 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 1950's.
       (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

[[Page S4585]]

     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.
       (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 2001 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 
     written report to the Congress in unclassified form 
     containing the plan authorized under subsection (b).

  Mr. ENSIGN. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to, 
the bill, as amended, be read the third time and passed, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the 
bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 647) was agreed to.
  The bill (H.R. 647), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

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