Taiwan Fellowship Act

To establish the Taiwan Fellowship Program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Taiwan Fellowship Act 2. Findings; purposes (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Taiwan Relations Act ( Public Law 96–8 22 U.S.C. 3301 to preserve and promote extensive, close, and friendly commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people on Taiwan, as well as the people on the China mainland and all other peoples of the Western Pacific area (2) Consistent with the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–409 (3) Despite a concerted campaign by the People’s Republic of China to isolate Taiwan from its diplomatic partners and from international organizations, including the World Health Organization, Taiwan has emerged as a global leader in the coronavirus global pandemic response, including by donating more than 2,000,000 surgical masks and other medical equipment to the United States. (4) The creation of a United States fellowship program with Taiwan would support a key priority of expanding people-to-people exchanges, which was outlined in the President’s 2017 National Security Strategy. (b) Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to further strengthen the United States-Taiwan strategic partnership and broaden understanding of the Indo-Pacific region by temporarily assigning officials of any branch of the United States Government to Taiwan for intensive study in Mandarin and placement as Fellows with Taiwan central authorities or a Taiwanese civic institution; (2) to provide for eligible United States personnel to learn Mandarin Chinese and expand their understanding of the political economy of Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region; (3) to better position the United States to advance its economic, security, and human rights interests in the Indo-Pacific region; and (4) to encourage further expansion of other people-to-people exchanges, including by expanding the Fulbright Scholars Program, the International Visitors Leadership Program, and other exchange programs that permit the people of Taiwan to work and study in the United States. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Agency head The term agency head (A) in the case of the executive branch of United States Government or an agency of the legislative branch other than the Senate or the House of Representatives, the head of the respective agency; (B) in the case of the judicial branch of United States Government, the chief judge of the respective court; (C) in the case of the Senate, the President pro tempore, in consultation with the majority leader and the minority leader of the Senate; and (D) in the case of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House, in consultation with the majority leader and the minority leader of the House of Representatives. (2) Agency of the united states government The term agency of the United States Government (3) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees (A) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives (D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives (4) Detailee The term detailee (5) Implementing partner The term implementing partner (A) performs logistical, administrative, and other functions, as determined by the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan in support of the Taiwan Fellowship Program; and (B) enters into a cooperative agreement with the American Institute in Taiwan to administer the Taiwan Fellowship Program. 4. Establishment of Taiwan Fellowship Program (a) Establishment The Secretary of State shall establish the Taiwan Fellowship Program (b) Grants (1) In general The American Institute in Taiwan should use amounts appropriated pursuant to section 7(a) to provide annual or multi-year grants to an appropriate implementing partner. (2) Fellowships The Department of State, in consultation with the American Institute in Taiwan and, as appropriate, the implementing partner, should annually award not fewer than 10 2-year fellowships (based on available funding) to eligible United States citizens. (c) International agreement; implementing partner Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the American Institute in Taiwan, in consultation with the Department of State, should— (1) begin negotiations with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, or with another appropriate entity, for the purpose of entering into an agreement to facilitate the placement of fellows in an agency of the Taiwan authorities during the second year of their fellowships; and (2) begin the process of selecting an implementing partner, which— (A) shall agree to meet all of the legal requirements required to operate in Taiwan; and (B) shall be composed of staff who demonstrate significant experience managing exchange programs in the Indo-Pacific region. (d) Curriculum (1) First year During the first year of each fellowship under this section, each fellow should study— (A) the Mandarin Chinese language; (B) the people, history, and political climate on Taiwan; and (C) the issues affecting the relationship between the United States and the Indo-Pacific region. (2) Second year During the second year of each fellowship under this section, each fellow, subject to the approval of the Department of State, the American Institute in Taiwan, and the implementing partner, and in accordance with the purposes of this Act, shall work in— (A) a parliamentary office, ministry, or other agency of Taiwan authorities; or (B) an organization outside of Taiwan authorities, whose interests are associated with the interests of the fellow and the agency of the United States Government from which the fellow had been employed. (e) Pilot program Notwithstanding any requirement under this section, during fiscal years 2021 and 2022, the Secretary of State may select fewer than 10 fellows for placement in a parliamentary office, ministry, or other agency of Taiwan authorities for a period shorter than 1 year. 5. Program requirements (a) Eligibility requirements A United States citizen is eligible for a fellowship under section 4 if he or she— (1) is an employee of the United States Government; (2) has at least 2 years of experience in any branch of the United States Government; (3) has a strong career interest in the relationship between the United States and countries in the Indo-Pacific region; (4) has demonstrated his or her commitment to further service in the United States Government; and (5) meets any other qualifications established by the Department of State, the American Institute in Taiwan and, as appropriate, its implementing partner. (b) Responsibilities of fellows Each recipient of a fellowship under this Act shall agree, as a condition of such fellowship— (1) to maintain satisfactory progress in language training and appropriate behavior in Taiwan, as determined by the Department of State, the American Institute in Taiwan and, as appropriate, its implementing partner; (2) to refrain from engaging in any intelligence or intelligence-related activity on behalf of the United States Government; and (3) to continue Federal Government employment for a period of not less than 2 years after the conclusion of the fellowship. (c) Responsibilities of implementing partner (1) Selection of fellows The implementing partner, in close coordination with the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan, shall— (A) make efforts to recruit fellowship candidates who reflect the diversity of the United States; and (B) select fellows for the Taiwan Fellowship Program based solely on merit, with appropriate supervision from the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan. (2) First year The implementing partner should provide each fellow in the first year of his or her fellowship with— (A) intensive Mandarin Chinese language training; and (B) courses in the political economy of Taiwan, China, and the broader Indo-Pacific. (3) Waiver of required training The Department of State, in coordination with the American Institute in Taiwan and, as appropriate, the implementing partner, may waive any of the training required under paragraph (1) to the extent that a fellow has Mandarin language skills, knowledge of the topic described in paragraph (2)(B), or for other reasons approved by the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan. If any of the training requirement is waived for a fellow, the first year of his or her fellowship may be shortened to the extent appropriate. (4) Office; staffing The implementing partner, in consultation with the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan, shall maintain an office and at least 1 full-time staff member in Taiwan— (A) to liaise with the American Institute in Taiwan and Taiwan authorities; and (B) to serve as the primary in-country point of contact for the recipients of fellowships under this Act and their dependents. (5) Other functions The implementing partner shall perform other functions in association in support of the Taiwan Fellowship program to include those logistical and administrative in nature as may be determined by the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan. (d) Noncompliance (1) In general Any fellow who fails to comply with the requirements under this section shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan for— (A) the Federal funds expended for the fellow’s participation in the fellowship, as set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3); and (B) interest accrued on such funds (calculated at the prevailing rate). (2) Full reimbursement Any fellow who violates paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan in an amount equal to the sum of— (A) all of the Federal funds expended for the fellow’s participation in the fellowship; and (B) interest on the amount specified in subparagraph (A), which shall be calculated at the prevailing rate. (3) Pro rata reimbursement Any fellow who violates subsection (b)(3) shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan in an amount equal to the difference between— (A) the amount specified in paragraph (2); and (B) the product of— (i) the amount the fellow received in compensation during the final year of the fellowship, including the value of any allowances and benefits received by the fellow; multiplied by (ii) the percentage of the period specified in subsection (b)(3) during which the fellow did not remain employed by the Federal Government. (e) Annual report Not later than 90 days after the selection of the first class of fellows under this Act, and annually thereafter, the Department of State shall offer to brief the appropriate congressional committees regarding the following issues: (1) An assessment of the performance of the implementing partner in fulfilling the purposes of this Act. (2) The names and sponsoring agencies of the fellows selected by the implementing partner and the extent to which such fellows represent the diversity of the United States. (3) The names of the parliamentary offices, ministries, other agencies of the Taiwan authorities, and nongovernmental institutions to which each fellow was assigned during the second year of the fellowship. (4) Any recommendations as appropriate to improve the implementation of the Taiwan Fellows Program, including added flexibilities in the administration of the program. (5) An assessment of the Taiwan Fellows Program’s value upon the relationship between the United States and Taiwan or the United States and Asian countries. (f) Annual financial audit (1) In general The financial records of any implementing partner shall be audited annually in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by independent certified public accountants or independent licensed public accountants who are certified or licensed by a regulatory authority of a State or another political subdivision of the United States. (2) Location Each audit under paragraph (1) shall be conducted at the place or places where the financial records of the implementing partner are normally kept. (3) Access to documents The implementing partner shall make available to the accountants conducting an audit under paragraph (1)— (A) all books, financial records, files, other papers, things, and property belonging to, or in use by, the implementing partner that are necessary to facilitate the audit; and (B) full facilities for verifying transactions with the balances or securities held by depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians. (4) Report (A) In general Not later than 6 months after the end of each fiscal year, the implementing partner shall provide a report of the audit conducted for such fiscal year under paragraph (1) to the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan. (B) Contents Each audit report shall— (i) set forth the scope of the audit; (ii) include such statements, along with the auditor’s opinion of those statements, as may be necessary to present fairly the implementing partner’s assets and liabilities, surplus or deficit, with reasonable detail; (iii) include a statement of the implementing partner’s income and expenses during the year; and (iv) include a schedule of— (I) all contracts and grants requiring payments greater than $5,000; and (II) any payments of compensation, salaries, or fees at a rate greater than $5,000 per year. (C) Copies Each audit report shall be produced in sufficient copies for distribution to the public. 6. Taiwan fellows on detail from government service (a) In general (1) Detail authorized With the approval of the Secretary of State, an agency head may detail, for a period of not more than 2 years, an employee of the agency of the United States Government who has been awarded a fellowship under this Act, to the American Institute in Taiwan for the purposes of assignment to Taiwan authorities or an organization under section 4(d)(2)(B). (2) Agreement Each detailee shall enter into a written agreement with the Federal Government before receiving a fellowship, in which the fellow shall agree— (A) to continue in the service of the sponsoring agency at the end of the fellowship for a period of at least 2 years unless the detailee is involuntarily separated from the service of such agency or participates in a pilot program authorized under section 4(e); and (B) to pay to the American Institute in Taiwan any additional expenses incurred by the Federal Government in connection with the fellowship if the detailee voluntarily separates from service with the sponsoring agency before the end of the period for which the detailee has agreed to continue in the service of such agency. (3) Exception The payment agreed to under paragraph (2)(B) may not be required of a detailee who leaves the service of the sponsoring agency to enter into the service of another agency of the United States Government unless the head of the sponsoring agency notifies the detailee before the effective date of entry into the service of the other agency that payment will be required under this subsection. (b) Status as Government employee A detailee— (1) is deemed, for the purpose of preserving allowances, privileges, rights, seniority, and other benefits, to be an employee of the sponsoring agency; (2) is entitled to pay, allowances, and benefits from funds available to such agency, which is deemed to comply with section 5536 of title 5, United States Code; and (3) may be assigned to a position with an entity described in section 4(d)(2)(A) if acceptance of such position does not involve— (A) the taking of an oath of allegiance to another government; or (B) the acceptance of compensation or other benefits from any foreign government by such detailee. (c) Responsibilities of sponsoring agency (1) In general The Federal agency from which a detailee is detailed should provide the fellow allowances and benefits that are consistent with Department of State Standardized Regulations or other applicable rules and regulations, including— (A) a living quarters allowance to cover the cost of housing in Taiwan; (B) a cost of living allowance to cover any possible higher costs of living in Taiwan; (C) a temporary quarters subsistence allowance for up to 7 days if the fellow is unable to find housing immediately upon arriving in Taiwan; (D) an education allowance to assist parents in providing the fellow’s minor children with educational services ordinarily provided without charge by public schools in the United States; (E) moving expenses to transport personal belongings of the fellow and his or her family in their move to Taiwan, which is comparable to the allowance given for American Institute in Taiwan employees assigned to Taiwan; and (F) an economy-class airline ticket to and from Taiwan for each fellow and the fellow’s immediate family. (2) Modification of benefits The American Institute in Taiwan and its implementing partner, with the approval of the Department of State, may modify the benefits set forth in paragraph (1) if such modification is warranted by fiscal circumstances. (d) No financial liability The American Institute in Taiwan, the implementing partner, and any authorities on Taiwan or nongovernmental entities in Taiwan at which a fellow is detailed during the second year of the fellowship may not be held responsible for the pay, allowances, or any other benefit normally provided to the detailee. (e) Reimbursement Fellows may be detailed under subsection (a)(1) without reimbursement to the United States by the American Institute in Taiwan. (f) Allowances and benefits Detailees may be paid by the American Institute in Taiwan for the allowances and benefits listed in subsection (c). 7. Funding (a) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the American Institute in Taiwan— (1) for fiscal year 2021, $500,000 to launch the Taiwan Fellowship Program through the issuance of a competitive grant to an appropriate implementing partner; and (2) for fiscal year 2021, and each succeeding fiscal year, $3,200,000, of which— (A) $3,100,000 shall be used for a grant to the appropriate implementing partner; and (B) $100,000 shall be used for management expenses of the American Institute in Taiwan related to the management of the Taiwan Fellowship Program. (b) Private sources The implementing partner selected to implement the Taiwan Fellowship Program may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property in carrying out such program, subject to the review and approval of the American Institute in Taiwan.

Summary: Taiwan Fellowship Act This bill directs the Department of State to establish a program to provide two-year fellowships in Taiwan to qualifying U.S. government employees. Each program fellow shall work in (1) a Taiwanese government agency; or (2) a nongovernmental organization, such as the American Institute in Taiwan, whose interests are associated with the interests of the fellow's employing U.S. government agency. (The United States does not have official relations with Taiwan as a result of China's position that Taiwan is part of China. The American Institute in Taiwan is a private organization that has a contract with the State Department to represent U.S. interests in Taiwan and provide consular services.) The State Department and the American Institute in Taiwan shall select a nonprofit organization to implement the fellowship program.