[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 86 (Friday, May 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TAIWAN'S PROPOSED MEMBERSHIP IN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

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                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2008

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
Taiwan's proposed membership in the World Health Organization, WHO.
  In today's global community, health is a shared responsibility, as 
the whole world is vulnerable to transnational diseases. Given the 
tremendous volume of international travel and global trade, the 
transmission of communicable diseases between borders has been 
heightened. This reality necessitates both global collaboration and a 
global response to prevent and control the spread of these diseases.
  The World Health Organization is the organization tasked with this 
duty. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health 
matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and 
standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing 
technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health 
trends.
  Currently, there are over 190 participants in the WHO. Taiwan is not 
one of them, however, which means that the 23 million citizens of 
Taiwan do not have access to the critical health service and 
information the WHO provides.
  As a strong democracy and one of the world's most robust economics, 
Taiwan should be allowed to benefit from the health services and 
medical protections offered by the WHO, including direct and immediate 
access to up-to-date disease information. Taiwan's exclusion from the 
WHO also prevents the country from taking part in the WHO mechanism for 
the allocation of vaccines and other disease control supplies. Taiwan's 
inability to make use of these allocation mechanisms during 
international outbreaks hampers its disease control efforts and has a 
strong negative impact on the health of the people in Taiwan.
  Taiwan's membership in the WHO is not only in the interest of the 
people of Taiwan, it is in the interest of the international community 
and the WHO itself: as the WHO stands to benefit significantly from the 
financial and technological contributions that Taiwan has to offer.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of Taiwan's 
inclusion in the World Health Organization.

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