[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 23742-23745]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 CONCERNING PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1794) concerning the participation of Taiwan in the World 
Health Organization (WHO), as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1794

       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 (WHO).

       (a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Good health is a basic right for every citizen of the 
     world and access to the highest standards of health 
     information and services is necessary to help guarantee this 
     right.
       (2) Direct and unobstructed participation in international 
     health cooperation forums and programs is therefore crucial, 
     especially with today's greater potential for the cross-
     border spread of various infectious diseases such as AIDS.
       (3) The World Health Organization (WHO) set forth in the 
     first chapter of its charter the objective of attaining the 
     highest possible level of health for all people.
       (4) In 1977, the World Health Organization established 
     ``Health For All By The Year 2000'' as its overriding 
     priority and reaffirmed that central vision with the 
     initiation of its ``Health For All'' renewal process in 1995.
       (5) Taiwan's population of 21,000,000 people is larger than 
     that of 3/4 of the member states already in the World Health 
     Organization.
       (6) 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

[[Page 23743]]

     those of western countries, the eradication of such 
     infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and the plague, and 
     the first to be rid of polio and provide children with free 
     hepatitis B vaccinations.
       (7) The World Health Organization was unable to assist 
     Taiwan with an outbreak of enterovirus 71 which killed 70 
     Taiwanese children and infected more than 1,100 Taiwanese 
     children in 1998.
       (8) In recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness to 
     assist financially or technically in WHO-supported 
     international aid and health activities, but has ultimately 
     been unable to render such assistance.
       (9) The World Health Organization allows observers to 
     participate in the activities of the organization.
       (10) The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, 
     declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in 
     appropriate international organizations.
       (11) In light of all of the benefits that Taiwan's 
     participation in the World Health Organization could bring to 
     the state of health not only in Taiwan, but also regionally 
     and globally, Taiwan and its 21,000,000 people should have 
     appropriate and meaningful participation in the World Health 
     Organization.
       (b) Report.--Not later than January 1, 2000, the Secretary 
     of State shall submit a report to the Congress on the efforts 
     of the Secretary to fulfill the commitment made in the 1994 
     Taiwan Policy Review to more actively support Taiwan's 
     participation in international organizations, in particular 
     the World Health Organization (WHO).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this Member rises in support of H.R. 1794, a resolution 
calling for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization, 
WHO. This is a bipartisan resolution, Mr. Speaker, which was approved 
unanimously by the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the 
Committee on International Relations on June 23, 1999. This Member 
congratulates the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for 
bringing this matter before this body, and I was pleased to join him as 
a cosponsor.
  The WHO is a nonpolitical United Nations affiliated agency with 191 
participating entities. It seeks to provide the highest possible level 
of health for all people. There is strong support for the people of 
Taiwan being afforded the opportunity to participate in a meaningful 
way in the WHO and take advantage of the information and services that 
this international organization offers. Given the fact that 
international travel makes the transmission of communicable diseases 
much more prevalent, it is illogical to deny WHO services to Taiwan's 
population of more than 20 million people.
  The threat of communicable disease transmission has become much more 
apparent to Americans in the past week with the outbreak in New York of 
a rare and very deadly form of African encephalitis. It is speculated 
this disease was brought to the United States in an aircraft or on a 
cargo vessel. This outbreak demonstrates just how porous America's 
borders have become. In such a world of easy transit, it defies logic 
to exclude 20 million people from this international disease prevention 
organization.
  In addition, Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that Taiwan can offer 
much in terms of medical and pharmaceutical expertise. Their longevity 
rate is nearly the highest in Asia. Specialists from Taiwan have unique 
skills in a number of areas where we in the West lack the expertise. 
The potential for cooperation is obvious.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1794 speaks only of ``appropriate and meaningful 
participation in the WHO.'' No one, I think, can responsibly argue with 
that position.
  H.R. 1794 also requires that the executive branch report on its 
effort to promote such participation. There is no desire in this body 
to force the executive branch to telegraph its best strategies to those 
who seek to deny Taiwan's appropriate treatment, and reporting 
requirement need not make such revelation. However, given the strong 
views held by many in this body, it is entirely appropriate to ask that 
the administration report to the Congress on its activities.
  Mr. Speaker, this Member urges adoption of H.R. 1794.
  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 rise in support of H.R. 1794. In addition, I would 
like to thank my numerous colleagues, especially the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), who have given their support to this bill, 
also including the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox), the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), and others.
  Two weeks ago, Mr. Speaker, Taiwan was struck by a devastating 
earthquake. It is not hard for us to empathize with the thousands of 
Taiwanese people who found themselves trapped under rubble, praying 
that someone would come to their rescue; that someone would respond to 
their cries for help; or for us to imagine how we might react if our 
family members were trapped under these buildings.
  Yet, in the aftermath of this disaster, unlike the immediate offers 
of help to the victims of the earthquakes in Greece and Turkey, 
international relief efforts were actually dragged out and postponed 
while scores of Taiwanese were fighting for their lives.

                              {time}  1515

  And we know why they were forced to wait for help, even though they 
themselves, the Taiwanese as a people, have provided hundreds of 
millions of dollars in assistance to victims of wars and famines and 
disaster all over the world. That is because even in Taiwan's darkest 
hour, the United Nations first had to receive permission from the 
People's Republic of China before they could help Taiwan.
  That is the reality of the One China policy. No matter how dire the 
situation, the human rights and the Taiwanese people take a back seat 
to Cold War geopolitics that frankly no longer serve any useful 
purpose. Unless we start doing something about it, unless we start to 
stick up for what is right, unless we start helping Taiwan instead of 
hindering it, then we will wind up letting China's dictators think they 
can continue to deny their people and the Taiwanese people their 
fundamental human rights.
  Today we are taking a step in the right direction, because regardless 
of the One China policy, access to first-rate medical care is a 
fundamental human right. I said it before, and I will say it again. 
Children cry the same tears whether they are in Lorain, Ohio, or 
Taipei, Taiwan. Denying them access to the latest medical innovations 
that can ease those tears is just as criminal as violating their other 
basic rights.
  H.R. 1794 is a step in the right direction and recognizes that human 
suffering obviously transcends politics. For the first time ever, 
Congress is requiring the State Department to find a role for Taiwan in 
the most beneficial of all international institutions, the World Health 
Organization, an outfit that is dedicated to eradicating disease and 
improving the health of people around the world regardless of the 
conditions imposed on them by any of the world's governments.
  Its achievements in this regard are nothing short of remarkable. In 
this past century, smallpox claimed hundreds of millions of lives, 
killing more people than every war and epidemic put together. Because 
of the tireless efforts of the World Health Organization, this scourge 
has been totally eradicated.
  In 1980, only 5 percent of the world's children were vaccinated 
against preventable diseases. Today, the WHO has vaccinated more than 
80 percent of the kids in the world, saving the lives of three million 
children each year. These diseases include polio, a virus unparalleled 
in its cruelty and suffering. The WHO has eradicated it from the 
Western Hemisphere. Similarly, measles, a killer of a quarter of a 
million children worldwide each year, is targeted for eradication by 
2001.
  Infectious disease and sickness are not limited to political borders, 
and the results of Taiwan's exclusion from

[[Page 23744]]

the WHO have been tragic. Young children and older citizens who are 
particularly vulnerable to a host of emerging infectious diseases, such 
as the Asian Bird Flu, are without the knowledge and expertise shared 
among the member nations of the WHO.
  With increased travel and trade among many members of our global 
village, these diseases do not stop at national borders. So why should 
we erect boundaries to shared information which would help improve the 
health of Taiwanese children?
  Mr. Speaker, denial of Taiwanese participation in the WHO is an 
unjustifiable violation of its people's fundamental human rights. Good 
health is a basic right for every citizen of the world, and Taiwan's 
admission to the WHO would help foster that right for its people.
  I call on all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1794 and Taiwan's 
right to participate in the World Health Organization.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot).
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1794.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my friend from Ohio (Mr. Brown) in 
sponsoring this legislation, and I am hopeful that we will garner the 
overwhelming support of the House.
  As my colleague has stated, H.R. 1724 requires the Secretary of State 
to report to Congress on the efforts of the State Department to fulfill 
the commitments made in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review to more actively 
support Taiwan's participation in international organizations, in 
particular the World Health Organization.
  The people of Taiwan have a great deal to offer the international 
community. It is terribly unfortunate that even though Taiwan's 
achievements in the medical field are certainly substantial and it has 
expressed a repeated willingness to assist both financially and 
technically in World Health Organization activities, it has not been 
allowed to do so. Passage of H.R. 1794 will, hopefully, prompt our 
Government to promote that effort.
  It is simply a travesty that during times of crisis, such as the 1998 
entovirus outbreak in Taiwan, the World Health Organization has been 
unable to help. That virus killed 70 Taiwanese children and infected 
more than a thousand.
  Only 2 weeks ago, the tragic earthquake in Taiwan that claimed more 
than 2,000 lives occurred. Sadly, we learned in published reports that 
the Communist Government of the People's Republic of China, whose 
belligerent insistence that Taiwan be denied a role in international 
organizations, demanded that any aid for Taiwan provided by the United 
Nations and the Red Cross receive prior approval from the dictators in 
Beijing.
  Mr. Speaker, in times of national emergency, Taiwan is deserving of 
assistance from the international community. The absurd policy denying 
or delaying that assistance must be changed.
  I want to again thank and commend my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Brown) 
and also the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) for their work on 
this very important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support 
it.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend, the 
gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood).
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Brown) for yielding me the time.
  I certainly rise in congratulations of both gentlemen from Ohio in 
drafting H.R. 1794.
  This measure is concerned with Taiwan's participation in the World 
Health Organization. Public health is a basic right and concern of all 
people no matter what their political status or their political 
standing in the world.
  The mission of the World Health Organization is to promote, maintain, 
and advocate on public health issues globally, who includes as one of 
its objectives the goal of attaining the highest possible level of 
health for all people. And Taiwan in many respects has one of the more 
advanced scientific and medical establishments in Asia, as those of us 
in Guam, which is 3\1/2\ hours flying time from Taiwan, know well.
  Yet, because Taiwan has been prohibited from full participation in 
international organizations associated with the U.N., many 
opportunities are lost to help the people of Taiwan. And in turn, the 
world may lose out from their experiences and expertise.
  Indeed, tragically because of these political obstacles, WHO was 
unable to assist the government of Taiwan during a serious viral 
outbreak in 1998. This is why it is altogether appropriate that we 
support this resolution. Since common sense dictates that good health 
transcends politics and history, Taiwan should be permitted to 
participate in a meaningful way with the WHO. This can be done without 
violating U.S. foreign policy that supports the One China policy. 
Without compromising that policy, the U.S. Government could support 
Taiwan's participation in the WHO in the name of saving lives and 
promoting universal public health.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time in order 
to close.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to favorably consider 
and vote for the resolution.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask for the support of the 
House in passing H.R. 1749, the resolution to support Taiwan for 
membership in the World Health Organization.
  Let us begin by asserting a simple truth: disease and disaster know 
no borders. This resolution will be progress made possible by a policy 
the United States adopted in 1994, which encouraged Taiwan's 
participation in various international organizations.
  When I was in Taiwan in August, I met and spoke personally with the 
country's surgeon general. We talked about the virtues of Taiwan's 
admission to the WHO, and that was prior to the devastating earthquake 
which killed and injured so many people. The international response to 
Taiwan in this hour of need was slowed by the fact that Taiwan was not 
a member country of the WHO.
  Taiwan's progression on matters related to health care is legendary 
in Asia. They have the highest life expectancy levels in Asia; they 
have implemented successful vaccination programs; and their maternal 
and infant mortality rates are comparable to those of Western nations. 
It was also the first Asian nation to eliminate polio and it was the 
first country world-wide to innoculate its children (for free) for 
hepatitis B.
  Taiwan has a world class economy and their health care system is 
quite advanced. Their membership in the WHO would be just as beneficial 
(or more so) to the other member nations as it would be for themselves.
  This bill requires the State Department to find a role for Taiwan in 
one of the most important international organizations, the World Health 
Organization. The WHO is dedicated to eradicating disease and improving 
the health of people worldwide.
  So, let me end where I began * * * infectious disease and disasters 
are not limited by political borders, and Taiwan's exclusion from WHO 
is tragic. Taiwan's young people and the elderly population, who are 
particularly vulnerable to many emerging diseases, such as the Asian 
Bird Flu, simply should not be without the knowledge and expertise 
shared by the member nations of WHO.
  Please join me in passing this resolution.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 1794 
concerning Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization 
(WHO).
  I want to commend the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Brown, for 
introducing, advocating this measure and for his perseverance on this 
issue.
  I also thank the gentleman from Nebraska, Mr. Bereuter, chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, for helping to bring the 
measure before us today.
  We all agree that good health is the basic human right of people 
everywhere. That right, though, can only be guaranteed if all people 
have unfettered access to all available resources regarding health 
care.
  The World Health Organization, a United Nations body which has 191 
participating entities, is one of those important resources. But today, 
regrettably, Taiwan, a nation of 21 million people, has been denied a 
share in that basic human right. This is wrong and it is high time we 
correct that wrong.
  There are opportunities for Taiwan to pursue observer status in the 
WHO which would

[[Page 23745]]

allow the people of Taiwan to participate in a substantive manner in 
the scientific and health activities of this important health 
organization.
  It is time for the Clinton administration to do the right thing, to 
take affirmative action, and to seek appropriate participation for 
Taiwan in the WHO.
  Accordingly, I call upon the administration to pursue all initiatives 
in the WHO which will allow these 21 million people to share in the 
health benefits that the WHO can provide.
  I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill and I urge my colleagues to 
fully support this measure.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1794 
concerning the participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization 
(WHO). I want to pay tribute to our distinguished colleague from Ohio, 
Mr. Sherrod Brown, for introducing this important bill. I also want to 
express my thanks for their support of this legislation the Chairman of 
the Asia Subcommittee, Congressman Doug Bereuter of Nebraska, as well 
as the Chairman of the International Relations Committee, Congressman 
Benjamin A. Gilman of New York, and the Ranking Democratic Member of 
the Committee, Congressman Sam Gejdenson of Connecticut.
  The time is long overdue for Taiwan to participate in the World 
Health Organization, Mr. Speaker. Taiwan, with its population 
approaching 22 million people, is larger than three-quarters of the 
countries which are members of the World Health Organization. Taiwan 
has a large, highly-educated and well-trained medical community. Many 
of these, I should add, are individuals who have been trained in the 
finest medical institutions here in the United States. Furthermore, 
Taiwan is a country with extensive economic, social and cultural links 
with the rest of the world. It has the resources to make an important 
contribution to the activities of the World Health Organization. It is 
unfortunate and counterproductive to continue to exclude Taiwan from 
participation in the work of the World Health Organization.
  Mr. Speaker, some five years ago, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, 
the Department of State agreed more actively to support the 
participation of Taiwan in international organizations, and in 
particular its participation in the World Health Organization. Our 
legislation will help focus our government's efforts to encourage this 
laudable goal.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
important piece of legislation.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Miller of Florida). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) that 
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1794, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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