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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 70 Introduced in House (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).
                                 <all>
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