| HR 428 IH 107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 428
Concerning the participation of Taiwan in the World Health
Organization.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 6, 2001
Mr. BROWN of Ohio (for himself, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. BERMAN,
Mr. LANTOS, Mr. DEUTSCH, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. WYNN, Mr. WU, Mr.
ROHRABACHER, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Mrs. TAUSCHER, Mr. COX, Mr. NEY, Mr.
SESSIONS, Mr. ANDREWS, and Mr. STARK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on International Relations
A BILL
Concerning the participation of Taiwan in the World Health
Organization.
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 for all parts of the world, especially with today's greater
potential for the cross-border spread of various infectious diseases such as AIDS.
(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 be rid of polio and provide children with free hepatitis B
vaccinations.
(5)
In 1998, an outbreak of enterovirus 71 killed 70 Taiwanese children whose deaths could
have been prevented if Taiwan would have had access to the WHO.
(6)
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.
(7)
The WHO has allowed observers to participate in the activities of the organization,
including the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the Knights of Malta, and the Vatican.
(8)
The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, declared its intention to support
Taiwan's participation in appropriate international organizations.
(9) Public Law 106-137 required the Secretary of State to submit a
report to Congress on efforts by the executive branch to support Taiwan's participation in
international organizations, in particular the WHO.
(10)
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.
(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 shall 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 shall 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 required under subsection (b).
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