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[Senate Report 113-42]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                                        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

                                 REPORT

                         [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.

                            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.

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.

                                  
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