29–010 

Calendar No. 86 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 113–42 

S. 579, A BILL TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO DEVELOP A 

STRATEGY TO OBTAIN OBSERVER STATUS FOR TAIWAN AT THE TRIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION ASSEMBLY, 

AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 

JUNE 13, 2013.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. MENENDEZ, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 579] 

The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under consideration the bill (S. 579) to direct the Secretary of State to develop a 

strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the triennial International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment, and recommends that the bill do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

I. Purpose ........................................................................................................... 1 

II. Committee Action .......................................................................................... 1 

III. Discussion ....................................................................................................... 2 

IV. Cost Estimate ................................................................................................. 2 

V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact .................................................................. 3 

VI. Changes in Existing Law .............................................................................. 3 

I. PURPOSE

S. 579 will improve the safety of American and other air travelers to and through Taiwan by directing the Secretary of State to 

develop a plan to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly. 

II. COMMITTEE ACTION

S. 579 was introduced by Senators Menendez and Inhofe on 

March 14, 2013, and was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. On May 14, 2013, the committee considered S. 579 and ordered it reported favorably without amendment by voice vote. 


sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
2 

III. DISCUSSION

This bill directs the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to 

obtain observer status for Taiwan at the triennial ICAO Assembly. 

Taiwan’s airspace jurisdiction covers an area of 180,000 square 

nautical miles and Taiwan provides air traffic control services to 

over 1,200,000 flights annually. Taiwan’s Taoyuan airport is the 

world’s 19th largest in terms of passenger volume, and the number 

of travelers between Taiwan and the United States is likely to increase with Taiwan’s entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in 

2012. 

Taiwan’s exclusion from the ICAO since 1971 has impeded the 

efforts of the Government of Taiwan to maintain civil aviation 

practices that comport with evolving international standards, due 

to its inability to obtain up-to-date information from the ICAO on 

aviation standards and norms, secure amendments to the organization’s regulations in a timely manner, obtain sufficient and timely 

information needed to prepare for the implementation of new systems and procedures set forth by the ICAO, receive technical assistance in implementing new regulations, and participate in technical and academic seminars hosted by the ICAO. 

The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, declared 

its intention to support Taiwan’s participation in appropriate international organizations and has consistently reiterated that support. 

ICAO rules and existing practices allow for the meaningful participation of noncontracting countries as well as other bodies in its 

meetings and activities through granting of observer status. 

IV. COST ESTIMATE

In accordance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the committee provides this estimate of the 

costs of this legislation prepared by the Congressional Budget Office. 

UNITED STATES CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, May 23, 2013. 

Hon. ROBERT MENENDEZ, 

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, 

U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 579, a bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for 

Taiwan at the triennial International Civil Aviation Organization 

Assembly, and for other purposes. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Sunita D’Monte. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 

Enclosure. 


sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
3 

S. 579, A bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy 

to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the triennial International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly, and for other 

purposes 

S. 579 would require the Secretary of State to develop a strategy 

to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the triennial International 

Civil Aviation Organization Assembly to be held in Montreal, Canada, in September 2013 and at other such activities in the future. 

The bill would require the Secretary to submit a report to the Congress within 30 days of enactment describing that strategy. 

CBO estimates that enacting S. 579 would result in no significant additional costs to the federal government because neither the 

strategy nor the report would add significantly to the State Department’s workload. Pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply to this legislation because it would not affect direct spending or revenues. 

S. 579 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates 

as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not 

affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Sunita D’Monte. The 

estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

V. EVALUATION OF REGULATORY IMPACT

Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing Rules 

of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation. 

VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the committee notes that S. 579, as reported, 

makes no changes in existing law. 

Æ 


sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS