[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 8083-8085]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    CONCERNING PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the 
Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 428) concerning the participation of 
Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
  The Clerk read as follows:
       Senate amendment:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     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 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 with today's greater 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 larger 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 one of the highest life expectancy 
     levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates 
     comparable to those of western countries, the eradication of 
     such infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and the 
     plague, and the first to eradicate polio and provide children 
     with hepatitis B vaccinations.
       (5) The United States Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention and its Taiwan counterpart agencies 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 the 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.
       (b) Plan.--The Secretary of State is authorized--
       (1) to initiate a United States plan to endorse and obtain 
     observer status for Taiwan at the annual week-long summit of 
     the World Health Assembly in May 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland; 
     and
       (2) to instruct the United States delegation to Geneva to 
     implement that plan.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 14 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a 
     written report to the Congress in unclassified form 
     containing the plan authorized under subsection (b).


[[Page 8084]]


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


                             General Leave

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 428.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Iowa?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this legislation which would 
authorize the administration to initiate a plan to endorse and obtain 
observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization during the 
May 2001 World Health Assembly in Geneva.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Brown) for sponsoring this resolution. It should be stressed that 
nothing in this bill implies a change in this country's one China 
policy, which has been based for over 30 years on three communiques and 
the Taiwan Relations Act. At the same time, however, care should be 
taken not to arbitrarily exclude the 23 million people of Taiwan from 
appropriate economic and humanitarian venues.
  Mr. Speaker, the House previously passed this bill 407-0 on April 24. 
Today we are considering the legislation as amended by the Senate. We 
should support it for at least two reasons:
  First, Taiwan's participation in the WHO will advance the cause of 
public health worldwide. In January, Taiwan played an important role in 
providing relief to earthquake victims in El Salvador. By gaining 
observer status at the WHO, Taiwan will be able to participate more 
meaningfully in meeting its, and our, global health challenges in the 
future. Disease and national disasters know no borders.
  Second, where sovereignty is not at issue, Taiwan's participation in 
international organizations makes common sense. Taiwan thrives 
economically and politically. Economically, Taiwan has raised the 
standard of living on a more equalitarian basis than any developing 
country over the past half century.
  Politically, reminiscent of Sun Yat-Sen's call for staged democratic 
development, Taiwan has moved, particularly over the past two decades, 
to expand and refine representative democracy. Today it is a model for 
the world.
  Mr. Speaker, the Senate has modified this bill to reflect the 
concerns of the senior Senator from the State of Utah, Mr. Hatch. The 
bill now authorizes rather than requires the Secretary of State to 
formulate and pursue a plan to win observer status for Taiwan in the 
World Health Organization. The administration supports this change, and 
I urge that the House do so as well.
  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 thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for his good 
work on this issue. On May 20 of last year, Chen Shui-bian was sworn in 
as President of Taiwan. This was an historic event, the first major 
transfer of power between rival political parties in that nation's 
history.
  Mature democracies like the United States take such political 
transitions for granted, but the peaceful exchange of power is a rare 
democratic legacy. Taiwan now shares this privilege. Taiwan has evolved 
into a stable, prosperous nation governed by the rule of law. Taiwan's 
40-year journey toward democracy is a success story. We should 
acknowledge and reward that progress and celebrate it.
  Mr. Speaker, to this end, I introduced H.R. 428, which would 
authorize our U.S. Department of State to initiate a plan to endorse 
and obtain observer status for Taiwan in this year's World Health 
Assembly. Ninety-two of my colleagues have cosponsored this bill 
fostering Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly. This is 
a modest step, but a meaningful one. Observer status in the WHA does 
not require statehood, in fact the PLO, the Order of Malta, the 
Vatican, and Rotary International all have observer status in Geneva at 
the WHA, but passing this bill will be a significant victory for every 
Taiwanese citizen and for every American who cares about human rights.
  Children and families suffer from the effects of inadequate health 
care, whether they live in Washington, Geneva, Beijing, or Taipei. In 
1998, Taiwan suffered an outbreak of enterovirus 71, a potentially 
fatal disease that causes severe inflammation of muscle surrounding the 
brain, spinal cord, and heart. Infants and children are particularly 
vulnerable to this highly contagious virus. Unfortunately, the 
Taiwanese doctors treating enterovirus 71 did not have access to the 
medical resources of the WHO. By the time the outbreak was under 
control, 70 Taiwanese children had died. Had Taiwan been permitted to 
draw on WHO expertise, these children could very well still be alive.
  But as Taiwan benefits from participation in the WHO, so does the 
rest of the world. Taiwan, with a highly developed health care system, 
has made great advances in science and technology. Inclusion in WHO 
would allow American health officials better access to Taiwanese 
information, as much as the other way around.
  Mr. Speaker, our government's tacit support for the status quo, our 
unwillingness to fight for Taiwan's participation in the World Health 
Organization, is not only short-sighted, it is unjustifiable. 
Infectious diseases do not respect politically driven distinctions or 
national borders. Infectious diseases travel. If there is TB in Taiwan, 
there will inevitably be TB in the U.S. If there is HIV/AIDS in South 
Africa, there will inevitably be HIV/AIDS in Brazil.
  Mr. Speaker, global illnesses are just that, global. No country is 
immune when one country faces a public health crisis. Recently, the 
administration decided to sell four Kidd-class destroyers to Taiwan, 
despite threats from the People's Republic of China. If our commitment 
as a Nation is strong enough to justify supporting Taiwan's military 
defense with arms sales, it certainly is strong enough to justify 
supporting access to global health resources for Taiwan's 23.5 million 
people.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the strong support H.R. 428 has received 
from Members on both sides of the aisle, and look forward to the bill's 
passage today. I call on President Bush to do the right thing, to go to 
Geneva and fight for observer status for Taiwan at the World Health 
Assembly.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Pence).
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 428. I thank 
the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Brown) for their excellent work on this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, the passage of this measure before the House will mark 
yet another triumph for the United States and Taiwan. For too long 
Taiwan has been denied the benefit of participation in the World Health 
Organization and a dialogue with its member nations concerning public 
health policy.
  Unfortunately, this absence has prevented the people of Taiwan and 
the members of the World Health Organization from the experiences of an 
emerging leader in East Asia. I am pleased that we will correct this 
oversight today.
  Mr. Speaker, we have a moral duty to ensure that our neighbors have 
access to the same lifesaving information and technology that we enjoy 
in the United States. As one of the world's most densely populated 
regions, Taiwan has been successful at controlling infectious diseases 
and matching the infant mortality rates of developed nations. Yet work 
remains in areas such as food safety and the control of illegal drugs.
  Mr. Speaker, the World Health Organization can help Taiwan in those 
efforts. I am encouraged by the prospects for all the World Health 
Organization's

[[Page 8085]]

members, and I look forward to increased participation by Taiwan in 
world health events. Ultimately, the real benefit of Taiwan's entry in 
the WHO will be the children of Taiwan who will have better access to 
immunizations and preventive care.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in this 
bipartisan effort in supporting this bill.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, let me stress that arguably the greatest 
issue in the world today may well be disease control. What the WHO 
symbolizes is a people-oriented concern for control of disease. Taiwan 
should not be precluded from expanding its capacity to meet its 
people's needs, nor precluded from assisting others in less 
sophisticated health care centers from receiving the support of 
Taiwanese doctors and health care delivery specialists.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a common-sense bill. I urge support of it.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the House 
Resolution 428 to approve Taiwan participation in the World Health 
Organization.
  Historically the United States and Taiwan have maintained good 
relationship. Ever since its establishment in 1912 we have had 
substantive diplomatic and commercial ties. On April 10, 1979, the 
House of Representatives have enacted Public Law 96-8, known as the 
Taiwan Relations Act. This Act played a very important role in shaping 
our policies toward Taiwan. It is considered as a representation of our 
best ideals to safeguard security and commercial interests in the area.
  Taiwan with its population of approximately 20 million has solidly 
embraced the principles of a democratic society.
  Its medical infrastructure is considered to be among the best in the 
world. According to a recent report, at the end of 1999, there were 
152,385 medical personnel in Taiwan. There are currently 11 medical 
schools, 13 paramedical junior colleges, and 14 paramedical vocational 
schools.
  Virtually all medical specialties known in the Western World are 
being practiced in Taiwan.
  In view of our close diplomatic ties and excellent health care 
program in Taiwan, I support House Resolution 428 to allow Taiwan to 
participate in the World Health Organization.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 428 which 
authorizes the U.S. Secretary of State to initiate and implement a plan 
to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the annual summit 
of the World Health assembly (of the World Health Organization) this 
month in Geneva, Switzerland. Taiwan and its 23 million people should 
have appropriate and meaningful participation in the World Health 
Organization (WHO).
  The WHO Constitution states that the ``enjoyment of the highest 
attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every 
human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, 
economic or social condition.'' Yet today, Taiwan is excluded from 
participation in the WHO because of political pressure from the 
People's Republic of China.
  This means that the people of Taiwan cannot share in the WHO's vital 
resources and expertise. Taiwanese physicians and health experts are 
not allowed to take part in WHO-organized forums and workshops 
regarding the latest techniques in the diagnosis, monitoring and 
control of diseases. Taiwanese doctors do not have access to WHO 
medical protocols and health standards.
  This is simply not right. Diseases do not stop at national 
boundaries, and with today's high frequency of international travel, 
the possibility of transmitting infectious diseases is greater than 
ever. Good health is a basic right for every citizen of the world, and 
Taiwan should be granted membership in the WHO.
  Despite its exclusion from the WHO, Taiwan has made some remarkable 
achievements in the field of health, including one of the highest life 
expectancy levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates 
comparable to those of western countries, and the eradication of 
infectious diseases such as smallpox and the plague. Taiwan is the 
first Asian nation to be rid of polio and the first country in the 
world to provide children with free hepatitis B vaccinations.
  Prior to 1972 and its loss of membership in the WHO, Taiwan sent 
specialists to serve on health projects in other members countries, and 
its experts held key positions in the WHO. In recent years, the 
Taiwanese government has expressed a willingness to assist financially 
or technically in WHO-supported international aid and health 
activities, but it has been unable to render such assistance because it 
is unable to participate in the international health organization.
  Taiwan's population of 23 million people is larger than three-
quarters of the member states already in the WHO. Clearly, Taiwan and 
the world community could benefit by its participation in the WHO. I 
believe the United States should actively support Taiwan's membership 
in the World Health Organization.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 428.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the initiative 
by the gentleman from Ohio, Congressman Brown, concerning Taiwan's 
participation in the World Health Organization. I commend our 
committee's distinguished chairman, Mr. Hyde and the ranking minority 
member, the gentleman from California, Mr. Lantos and the subcommittee 
chairmen and ranking minority members of the International Operations 
and Human Rights and East Asia and the Pacific for crafting and 
bringing this resolution expeditiously to the floor.
  Secretary Powell noted before our committee that there should be ways 
for Taiwan to enjoy full benefits of participation in international 
organizations without being a member. H.R. 428 only calls for the 
Secretary of State to initiate a United States plan to endorse and 
obtain observer status at the WHO for Taiwan.
  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.
  The WHO has allowed observers to participate in the activities of the 
organizations, including the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the 
Knights of Malta, and the Vatican.
  Along with many of my colleagues, we are very 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 anywhere near enough address this 
concern, it is a first step in addressing the problem that Taiwan 
faces.
  Accordingly, I strongly support H.R. 428.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) that the House suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 428.
  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. LEACH. 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.

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