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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 26 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 26

  Relating to Taiwan's Participation in the World Health Organization.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 20, 1999

Mr. Murkowski (for himself, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Helms, Mr. Thomas, Mr. 
  Mack, and Mr. Smith of Oregon), submitted the following resolution; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Relating to Taiwan's Participation in the World Health Organization.

Whereas 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;
Whereas direct and unobstructed participation in international health 
        cooperation forums and programs is therefore crucial, especially with 
        today's greater potential for the cross-border spread of various 
        infectious diseases such as AIDS and Hong Kong bird flu through 
        increased trade and travel;
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 in 1977 the World Health Organization established ``Health for all by 
        the year 2000'' as its overriding priority and reaffirmed that central 
        vision with the initiation of its ``Health For All'' renewal process in 
        1995;
Whereas Taiwan's population of 21,000,000 people is larger than that of \3/4\ of 
        the member states already in the World Health Organization and shares 
        the noble goals of the 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, the first Asian nation to be rid of polio, and the first country 
        in the world to provide children with free hepatitis B vaccinations;
Whereas prior to 1972 and its loss of membership in the World Health 
        Organization, Taiwan sent specialists to serve in other member countries 
        on countless health projects and its health experts held key positions 
        in the organization, all to the benefit of the entire Pacific region;
Whereas the World Health Organization was unable to assist Taiwan with an 
        outbreak of enterovirus 71 which killed 70 Taiwanese children and 
        infected more than 1,100 Taiwanese children in 1998;
Whereas Taiwan is not allowed to participate in any WHO-organized forums and 
        workshops concerning the latest technologies in the diagnosis, 
        monitoring, and control of diseases;
Whereas in recent years both the Republic of China on Taiwan's Government and 
        individual Taiwanese experts have expressed a willingness to assist 
        financially or technically in WHO-supported international aid and health 
        activities, but have ultimately been unable to render such assistance;
Whereas the World Health Organization allows observers to participate in the 
        activities of the organization;
Whereas the United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, declared its 
        intention to support Taiwan's participation in appropriate international 
        organizations; and
Whereas in light of all of the benefits that Taiwan's participation in the World 
        Health Organization could bring to the state of health not only in 
        Taiwan, but also regionally and globally: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) Taiwan and its 21,000,000 people should have 
        appropriate and meaningful participation in the World Health 
        Organization;
            (2) the Secretary of State should report to the Senate 
        Foreign Relations Committee by April 1, 1999, on the efforts of 
        the Secretary to fulfill the commitment made in the 1994 Taiwan 
        Policy Review to more actively support Taiwan's membership in 
        international organizations that accept non-states as members, 
        and to look for ways to have Taiwan's voice heard in 
        international organizations; and
            (3) the Secretary of State shall report to the Senate 
        Foreign Relations Committee by April 1, 1999, on what action 
        the United States will take at the May 1999 World Health 
        Organization meeting in Geneva to support Taiwan's meaningful 
        participation.
                                 <all>
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