[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 73 (Thursday, May 15, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TAIWAN, SARS, AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

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                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 2003

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my best wishes and 
congratulations to the Republic of China as it celebrates President 
Chen Shui-bian's third anniversary in office. President Chen is to be 
commended for his leadership in guiding Taiwan through various 
challenges and maintaining prosperity and democracy for its 23 million 
people on the island.
  Despite economic downturns in many parts of the world, Taiwan has 
maintained a healthy growth. Taiwan's substantive relations with nearly 
all the free countries have been steadily improving, especially with 
Taiwan's recent accession to the World Trade Organization. However, 
much more needs to be done to expand Taiwan's international presence, 
particularly as Southeast Asia combats the spread of Severe Acute 
Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS.
  With the recent outbreak of SARS, I feel even stronger that Taiwan 
needs to be included in any and all international medical collaborative 
efforts. With the spread of SARS, the importance of public health 
information disclosure is paramount. Secretary of State Colin Powell 
recently stated that, ``infectious disease knows no borders and 
requires an effective and coordinated response at local, national and 
international levels.'' Time has come for Taiwan to be included in all 
World Health Organization activities. For a start, I believe the United 
States should strongly support Taiwan's efforts to obtain observer 
status at the World Health Assembly this May.
  We must make every effort to combat the growing threat of SARS. 
Taiwan is geographically located at the heart of this devastating 
crisis. To deny WHO membership--or at the very least observer status at 
the World Health Assembly--is a direct affront on the international 
medical community's efforts to contain the deadly spread of this virus. 
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of Taiwan's 
inclusion in the World Health Organization.

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