[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 67 (Monday, May 4, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    IN HONOR OF TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 4, 2009

  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
announcement of Taiwan's participation as an observer in the World 
Health Assembly, WHA, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland. This 
announcement is the culmination of more than a decade of efforts by the 
Taiwanese people to be included in the assembly. Additionally, many of 
my congressional colleagues and I have been active in supporting 
Taiwan's participation in the WHA. I am delighted that after years of 
work in both Taipei and Washington, DC, these efforts have finally paid 
off and that Taiwan will be able to send a delegation to the WHA later 
this month under the nomenclature of ``Chinese Taipei.''
  With the outbreak of the H1N1 virus sweeping across the United States 
and several countries, Taiwan's inclusion as an observer in the WHA is 
especially crucial in coordinating global responses to epidemics. 
Diseases do not stop at national borders, and Taiwan's long absence 
from the WHA meant that a coordinated global response to outbreaks was 
not as effective as it could be with Taiwan's inclusion.
  I congratulate the Taiwanese people on finally winning inclusion in 
the WHA and look forward to continuing the good relations between 
Taiwan and the United States.

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