[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H2215-H2217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4019) to address the participation of Taiwan in the World 
Health Organization, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       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.

       (a) Findings.--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 today with the great 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 \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--
       (A) attaining--
       (i) 1 of the highest life expectancy levels in Asia; and
       (ii) maternal and infant mortality rates comparable to 
     those of western countries;
       (B) eradicating such infectious diseases as cholera, 
     smallpox, the plague, and polio; and
       (C) providing children with hepatitis B vaccinations.
       (5) The United States Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention and its counterpart agencies in Taiwan 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 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 a 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 the 
     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.
       (15) In 2003, the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory 
     Syndrome (SARS) caused 84 deaths in Taiwan.
       (16) Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has 
     reemerged in Asia, with strains of the influenza reported by 
     the People's Republic of China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, 
     Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.
       (17) The SARS and avian influenza outbreaks illustrate that 
     disease knows no boundaries and emphasize the importance of 
     allowing all people access to the WHO.
       (18) As the pace of globalization quickens and the spread 
     of infectious disease accelerates, it is crucial that all 
     people, including the people of Taiwan, be given the 
     opportunity to participate in international health 
     organizations such as the WHO.
       (19) The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     acknowledged during the 2003 World Health Assembly meeting 
     that ``[t]he need for effective public health exists among 
     all peoples''.
       (b) Plan.--The Secretary of State is authorized to--
       (1) initiate a United States plan to endorse and obtain 
     observer status for Taiwan at the annual week-long summit of 
     the World Health Assembly each year in Geneva, Switzerland;
       (2) instruct the United States delegation to the World 
     Health Assembly in Geneva to implement that plan; and
       (3) introduce a resolution in support of observer status 
     for Taiwan at the summit of the World Health Assembly.
       (c) Report Concerning Observer Status for Taiwan at the 
     Summit of the World Health Assembly.--Not later than 30 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not later 
     than April 1 of each year thereafter, the Secretary of State 
     shall submit a report to the Congress, in unclassified form, 
     describing the United States plan to endorse and obtain 
     observer status for Taiwan at the annual week-long summit of 
     the World Health Assembly (WHA) held by the World Health 
     Organization (WHO) in May of each year in Geneva, 
     Switzerland. Each report shall include the following:
       (1) An account of the efforts the Secretary of State has 
     made, following the last meeting of the World Health 
     Assembly, to encourage WHO member states to promote Taiwan's 
     bid to obtain observer status.
       (2) The steps the Secretary of State will take to endorse 
     and obtain observer status at the next annual meeting of the 
     World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Chabot) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot).

[[Page H2216]]

                             General Leave

  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 4019, the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Brown), for his leadership in this effort to obtain observer 
status for Taiwan at the annual week-long summit held by the World 
Health Organization in May of each year. My colleague has spearheaded 
this campaign for many years, and I am pleased to join him once again.
  I also want to thank Brett Gibson of the staff of the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Brown), who has done a great job working on this issue.
  The people of Taiwan have a great deal to offer to the international 
community. It is terribly unfortunate that while Taiwan's achievements 
in the medical field are certainly substantial, and it has expressed 
the repeated willingness to assist both financially and technically in 
World Health Organization activities, it has not been allowed to do so 
because of the intransigence of the Communist Chinese Government.
  It is a travesty that during times of crisis, such as the 1998 
entovirus outbreak in Taiwan that killed 70 children and infected 
hundreds and hundreds more, the World Health Organization was unable to 
help. When an earthquake in 1999 claimed more than 2,000 lives, we 
learned in published reports that the Chinese Government, whose 
belligerent insistence that Taiwan be denied a role in international 
organizations, demanded that any aid for Taiwan provided by U.N. 
organizations and the Red Cross receive prior approval from the 
dictators in Beijing. And when the SARS outbreak killed so many in 
Taiwan last year, the PRC objected to WHO assistance for its neighbor.
  Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson has stated that 
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. We can show that support by adopting this legislation 
that would authorize the Secretary of State to endorse and obtain 
observer status for Taiwan at the annual summit of the World Health 
assembly and introduce a resolution in support of observer status.
  This legislation also makes permanent the reporting requirement 
mandating an account of our government's efforts at the assembly and 
the steps the Secretary will take to endorse and obtain observer status 
at the next meeting of the assembly.
  In the face of the AIDS pandemic, the threat of bioterrorism, and 
vicious infectious diseases like avian flu, the need for international 
cooperation in public health matters has never been more critical.

                              {time}  1130

  But despite the danger of health threats stalking the world's 
population, 23 million residents of the island of Taiwan continue to be 
banned from participation in and cooperating with the work of the World 
Health Organization. Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health 
Organization is not simply a political question, it is a question of 
humanity. It is an injury to the lives and well-being of the Taiwanese 
people, and a lost opportunity to defeat disease, humanity's common 
enemy.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that demands we put aside narrow 
political considerations in the interest of human welfare. It demands 
the attention of the international community, and it demands the 
attention of the United States. Beyond these humanitarian 
considerations that would apply to people anywhere in the world if 
granted observer status at the World Health Organization, Taiwan would 
be uniquely positioned to help strengthen the infrastructure of the 
international public health system.
  The damage from the potential exclusion from World Health 
Organization does not stop at the island's shoreline. Taiwan's 
continued forced isolation from the world health community stands to 
impact the health of all of the countries in East Asia and the greater 
international community. Diseases do not recognize political 
boundaries, a fact demonstrated during the 2003 outbreak of SARS, as I 
mentioned previously. Taiwan's highly trained medical personnel, 
outstanding medical facilities and respected scientific community would 
be a tremendous resource to global health professionals working to 
combat disease. Furthermore, despite its arbitrary exclusion from the 
World Health Organization and the annual World Health Assembly in 
Geneva, Taiwan has made generous financial contributions to 
international efforts to improve public health throughout the world, 
including a $1 million donation to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, 
Tuberculosis and Malaria.
  In the context of such compelling arguments for Taiwan's 
participation in the global network of medical information and 
organizations represented by the World Health Organization, its 
continuing exclusion is illogical and dangerous. It is a reality that 
has been perpetuated through the threats and posturing of the People's 
Republic of China, a government whose outrageous behavior during last 
year's SARS epidemic clearly demonstrated an unwillingness to act 
responsibly in safeguarding the health of citizens on the mainland or 
Taiwan.
  It is my hope and that of other cosponsors of this legislation that 
our government will take vigorous steps to immediately right this 
wrong. This legislation calls on the head of the American delegation at 
the World Health Organization to speak out forcefully on the floor of 
the World Health Assembly in support of the right of the people of 
Taiwan to meaningful participation in the international public health 
community.
  The manager's amendment contains a modification on the bill as 
introduced. It extends beyond calendar year 2004 the authorization for 
the Secretary of State to seek observer status for Taiwan at the World 
Health Assembly and to report to Congress on the same.
  I would conclude by thanking the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) and 
his staff for leadership on this bill, and also the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Wexler) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Rohrabacher), who are cochairs of the Taiwan Caucus.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I again join the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) in 
urging Congress to authorize the U.S. to endorse and obtain observer 
status for Taiwan at the annual summit of the World Health Assembly, 
the meeting of the World Health Organization, set for next month, May 
of 2004, in Geneva.
  I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Rohrabacher), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler) and especially 
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for their hard work and dedication 
to world public health. H.R. 4019 is another important step in 
fulfilling the commitment that we in this country made in the 1994 
Taiwan policy review to more actively support Taiwan's membership in 
organizations such as the United Nations and the World Health 
Organization. We should continue to support Taiwan in international 
bodies. We should continue to advocate for Taiwan to be represented in 
the WHO.
  There are more reasons today to support this bill than there were 
last year even. Those reasons are SARS and the avian flu outbreaks. How 
much more limited would the effect of SARS worldwide have been if 
Taiwan's government had been fully engaged in the work of the World 
Health Organization? How much more quickly would the disaster have been 
contained if China had not covered up the outbreak and Taiwan could 
have stepped forward?
  Excluding the people of Taiwan from the WHO violates the basic 
premise of the WHO to enjoy the attainment of the highest standard of 
health ``is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without 
distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social 
condition.''
  Last year the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS, 
caused 73 people in Taiwan to die. This

[[Page H2217]]

year, avian influenza has reemerged in Asia, has been reported in China 
and Cambodia, Indonesia and Japan, Laos, Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan, 
Thailand and Vietnam. SARS and the avian influenza continue to threaten 
Taiwan. The case has never been stronger for allowing the people of 
Taiwan access to the WHO. As globalization quickens, and as the spread 
of infectious disease accelerates, it is crucial that the people of 
Taiwan be given the opportunity to participate in international health 
organizations such as WHO.
  This bill authorizes Secretary of State Powell to endorse and help 
obtain observer status for Taiwan at the week-long health summit of the 
WHA, and authorizes the State Department to introduce a resolution on 
the floor of the WHA in support of Taiwan's participation in the 
organization. The bill directs the State Department to submit a plan to 
Congress on how to accomplish this objective.
  Taiwan has eradicated smallpox, cholera, polio, and achieved infant 
mortality rates on a par with Western, wealthy nations. These 
accomplishments warrant an invitation to participate in international 
policy health discussions, to sit at the table with scientists and 
physicians and other public health experts in all these countries.
  With a population of 23 million people, Taiwan is larger than 75 
percent of the countries which actually belong to the WHO. Taiwan is 
prepared to contribute meaningfully to the global health efforts 
discussed at the WHA, but without observer status, its delegates cannot 
even enter the room. This bill would prevent the international 
community from missing out on the insight and experience Taiwanese 
health officials can offer. This bill is good for the 23 million people 
in Taiwan, and it is also good for the rest of the world because of the 
expertise that Taiwanese health officials bring to the table.
  I urge my colleagues to support access to the WHO for the 23 million 
people of democratic Taiwan and support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would just like to recognize several of the staff who 
have been instrumental on bringing this forth today. On the majority 
side, I would like to recognize Sarah Tilleman and Dennis Halpin for 
their very hard work; and on the minority side, I would like to 
recognize and thank Paul Oostburg and Bob King for their service and 
the hard work they have put in to make this possible today.
   Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am in strong support of this resolution.
   Mr. Speaker, I would first like to commend my colleague from Ohio, 
Sherrod Brown, for his persistence in pushing for Taiwan's observer 
status at the WHO. For many years he has successfully advocated for 
legislation to move this issue forward, and I want to congratulate him 
on his current efforts to do so.
   I would also like to thank the Chairman of the Committee, my good 
friend from Illinois, for moving this legislation forward and to other 
members on his side of the aisle for their support.
   Mr. Speaker, by battling the spread of infectious diseases and 
increasing the quality of health care to the global community, the 
World Health Organization makes a significant contribution to America's 
national security. As we meet today, the World Health Organization is 
attempting to prevent future outbreaks of the deadly SARS virus, 
implementing new strategies to stop the spread of the deadly HIV/AIDS 
virus, and teaching the developing world how to stop the transmission 
of tuberculosis.
   Mr. Speaker, the fight for quality health care around the globe will 
never cease. As a result, the WHO and its member countries must look 
for help from every nation, and from every people, to strengthen the 
work of the organization. Unfortunately, strong and consistent 
opposition from the Chinese Government has repeatedly stopped the 
people of Taiwan from contributing to the work of the WHO.
   I appreciate the willingness of President Bush to support Taiwan's 
bid for WHO observer status. But I fear that those who work for the 
President at the White House and the State Department are unwilling to 
make a concerted effort to make Taiwan's observer status a reality. 
While it is true that active, not simply passive, support for Taiwan's 
bid will upset Beijing, we must first focus on promoting America's own 
national interest.
   It is true that observer status for Taiwan will not come easy. 
Beijing holds sway over many WHO members. But the facts in support of 
Taiwan's case are clear, and support will undoubtedly build over time 
with active American engagement.
   Mr. Speaker, Taiwan is one of America's strongest allies in the 
Asia-Pacific region, and is a beacon of democracy for people around the 
world. Taiwan also has the money and expertise to make a significant 
contribution to the work of the World Health Organization. The case for 
Taiwan at the WHO is clear, and I hope that the Bush Administration 
will actively seize on this critically-important matter.
   I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4019.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am in strong support of Taiwan's entry 
into the World Health Organization (WHO). It is once again time for 
Congress to stand up for a democratic Taiwan.
  Secretary Powell has noted before the International Relations 
Committee that there should be ways for Taiwan to enjoy full benefits 
of participation in international organizations without being a member. 
H.R. 4019 only calls for the Secretary of State to initiate a United 
States plan to endorse and obtain observer status at the WHO for 
Taiwan.
  Time and time again in recent years, Congress has passed similar 
legislation to provide for Taiwan's participation in the WHO. Yet time 
and time again, Taiwan has been thwarted from joining this 
international organization because of objections from the People's 
Republic of China. This most recently occurred last May at the World 
Health Assembly in Geneva; even after Congress enacted legislation 
authorizing the U.S. Government to implement a plan for Taiwan to 
obtain observer status.
  In recent years. Taiwan has expressed a willingness to assist 
financially and technically in international aid and health activities 
supported by the WHO, but has been unable to render such assistance 
because Taiwan is not a member of the WHO. Last year's SARS outbreak in 
Asia should have made it perfectly clear how important it is to allow 
Taiwan to participate in the WHO. Taiwan offered to work with the WHO 
yet was denied; only later were two WHO experts dispatched to Taiwan.
  Meanwhile, the WHO has allowed observers to participate in the 
activities of the organization, including the Palestinian Liberation 
Organization, the Knights of Malta, and the Vatican.
  Along with many of my colleagues, I am extremely disappointed that 
Taiwan is not a full member of the U.N. and all international 
organizations that its democratically led government wishes to join. 
Although this resolution does not go anywhere near far enough to 
address this concern, it is a first step in addressing the problem that 
Taiwan faces.
  Therefore, I urge every member of this House to support a democratic 
Taiwan by supporting this bill.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bass). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4019, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________