U.S. Dept. of State - IIP: The United States and China

Text: Senate Endorses Observer Status for Taiwan at Health Meeting
(World Health Assembly to take place in May in Geneva)

The Senate passed by unanimous consent March 19 a bill that would authorize the United States to work toward observer status for Taiwan at the annual summit of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO, a part of the United Nations, will hold its next World Health Assembly in May this year in Geneva, Switzerland.

H.R. 2739 authorizes the United States to "endorse and obtain" observer status for Taiwan at that assembly.

Representative Sherrod Brown (Democrat of Ohio) introduced H.R. 2739 in August 2001; the bill passed the House of Representatives December 19 and was passed on to the Senate the following day.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee took up the measure March 19 and reported H.R. 2739 without amendment favorably to the Senate.

That same day the Senate took up the bill and passed it without amendment by unanimous consent.

The bill now goes to the President for his signature. If the President signs the bill, it will become law.

107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2739
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 20 (legislative day, DECEMBER 18), 2001
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

March 19, 2002

To amend Public Law 107-10 to authorize a United States plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the annual summit of the World Health Assembly in May 2002 in Geneva, Switzerland, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

(a) FINDINGS- Section 1(a) of Public Law 107-10 (115 Stat. 17) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(12) On May 11, 2001, President Bush stated in his letter to Senator Murkowski that the United States `should find opportunities for Taiwan's voice to be heard in international organizations in order to make a contribution, even if membership is not possible', further stating that his Administration `has focused on finding concrete ways for Taiwan to benefit and contribute to the WHO.'

'(13) On May 16, 2001, as part of the United States delegation to the World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson announced to the American International Club the Administration's support of Taiwan's participation in the activities of the WHO.'

(b) PLAN- Section 1(b)(1) of Public Law 107-10 (115 Stat. 17) is amended by striking `May 2001' and inserting `May 2002'.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)