| HJ 70 IH 106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 70
Providing for expedited emergency humanitarian
assistance, disaster relief assistance, and medical assistance to the people of Taiwan.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October
5, 1999
Mr. COX
introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
International Relations
JOINT RESOLUTION
Providing
for expedited emergency humanitarian assistance, disaster relief assistance, and medical
assistance to the people of Taiwan.
Whereas
the September 21, 1999, earthquake in Taiwan resulted in the loss of more than 2,000
lives, the injury of more than 8,500 additional men, women, and children, and the creation
of more than 100,000 homeless people;
Whereas
the world community reacted as rapidly as possible to this medical, health, and
humanitarian emergency;
Whereas
each hour that passes after an earthquake or other natural disaster greatly reduces the
chances for survival for those who are injured or dying;
Whereas,
according to published reports, United States disaster relief assistance to the victims of
the Taiwan earthquake was delayed during the critical hours after the earthquake because
United States and international aid organizations believed they were obligated to ask for
permission from the Government of the People's Republic of China before they could provide
such assistance to the people of Taiwan;
Whereas,
according to published reports, the Government of the People's Republic of China demanded
that any aid for Taiwan provided by the United Nations and the International Committee of
the Red Cross receive prior approval from government officials in Beijing or from the Red
Cross chapter of the People's Republic of China;
Whereas,
according to published reports, the delivery of aid for Taiwan by a Russian rescue team
was delayed by 10 hours as the team waited for the United Nations to approve its
application;
Whereas,
according to published reports, the Russian rescue team was further delayed when the
Government of the People's Republic of China denied an air corridor to the team, thereby
forcing the aircraft to make a lengthy detour over Siberia and to make two extra
unnecessary stops for refueling, and thereby further causing a 12-hour delay in the rescue
team's arrival during the initial, critical 72-hour rescue period;
Whereas
direct and unobstructed participation in international health cooperation forums and
programs is crucial to help ensure good health and access to emergency assistance for
every citizen of the world;
Whereas
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;
Whereas
Taiwan's population of 21,000,000 people is larger than that of three-fourths of the
member states in the World Health Organization;
Whereas
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 country to eradicate polio and provide children with free
hepatitis B vaccinations;
Whereas
in recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness to provide financial or technical
assistance for World Health Organization-supported international aid and health activities
but it has ultimately been unable to render such assistance;
Whereas
the United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, declared its intention to support
Taiwan's participation in appropriate international organizations; and
Whereas
it is the policy of the United States Government to ensure that United States and
international humanitarian and medical organizations are free to act as expeditiously as
possible to provide emergency aid to people in need: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR TAIWAN AND TAIWAN'S MEMBERSHIP IN CERTAIN INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS.
(a)
NOTIFICATION RELATING TO EXPEDITIOUS PROVISION OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR TAIWAN- The
President shall take all necessary steps to ensure that notification is provided to United
States Government agencies and United States and international nongovernmental
organizations, including private voluntary organizations, such as the American Red Cross,
which provide emergency humanitarian assistance, disaster relief assistance, and medical
assistance, that when a natural disaster, medical emergency, or other emergency
necessitates the provision of such assistance for Taiwan, those agencies and organizations
may provide such assistance as expeditiously as possible to Taiwan without seeking the
prior approval of, or otherwise coordinating with, the Government of the People's Republic
of China.
(b)
MEMBERSHIP OF TAIWAN IN MEDICAL AND HUMANITARIAN AID ORGANIZATIONS- The President shall
take all necessary steps on behalf of the United States Government to support the
membership of Taiwan in the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the World Health Organization.
(c)
REPORT- Not later than November 1, 1999, the President shall prepare and transmit to the
Congress a report on the status of efforts by the United States Government to accomplish
the objectives set forth in subsections (a) and (b).
END
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