Title: COVID–19 Accountability Act
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
COVID-19 Accountability Act
This bill authorizes sanctions in relation to the Chinese government's response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak. It also increases the research tax credit and imposes requirements related to the acquisition of items for the Strategic National Stockpile.
The President shall periodically certify to Congress that the Chinese government (1) is cooperating with efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreak, (2) has prohibited wet markets, and (3) has released and dropped all charges for anyone involved in protests in Hong Kong related to COVID-19. If the President cannot make such a certification, the President may (1) impose sanctions on Chinese government officials, entities owned or controlled by the Chinese government, and individuals affiliated with such entities; or (2) prohibit Chinese nationals from obtaining student visas (i.e., F and M visas) or exchange visitor visas (i.e., J visas).
With respect to the research tax credit, the bill increases the alternative simplified credit from 14% to 20% of qualified research expenses above a certain threshold.
The Department of Health and Human Services generally may not purchase personal protective equipment, critical medical supplies, or certain fabric products not produced in the United States for the Strategic National Stockpile. However, this restriction shall not apply if (1) there is not a sufficient amount of U.S.-produced items available at U.S. market prices when needed, or (2) the purchase is worth less than $150,000.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3683 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3683

 To authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to the People's 
   Republic of China for its obstruction or failure to cooperate in 
  investigations relating to the outbreak of COVID-19, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 11, 2020

 Mr. Graham (for himself, Mr. Braun, Mr. Daines, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. 
 Scott of Florida, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Young) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                          Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to the People's 
   Republic of China for its obstruction or failure to cooperate in 
  investigations relating to the outbreak of COVID-19, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``COVID-19 
Accountability Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Statement of policy.
   TITLE I--SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Sec. 101. Sanctions with respect to the obstruction or failure of the 
                            People's Republic of China to cooperate in 
                            investigations relating to the outbreak of 
                            COVID-19.
TITLE II--ENSURING A SAFE AND SECURE SUPPLY OF PHARMACEUTICALS FOR THE 
                             UNITED STATES

Sec. 201. Food and Drug Administration reporting requirements.
  TITLE III--ENCOURAGING THE RETURN AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNITED STATES 
                                INDUSTRY

Sec. 301. Increase in alternative simplified research credit.
Sec. 302. Special rules for certain United States manufacturers.
Sec. 303. Domestic purchasing requirement for personal protective 
                            equipment acquisitions for the Strategic 
                            National Stockpile.
                  TITLE IV--MATTERS RELATING TO TAIWAN

Sec. 401. Participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
Sec. 402. Briefing on United States strategy regarding Taiwan's 
                            international recognition.
Sec. 403. Sense of Congress on the implementation of the Asia 
                            Reassurance Initiative Act.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The People's Republic of China, including the 
        Government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese 
        Communist Party, has mishandled its management and response to 
        the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (commonly known as 
        ``COVID-19'') in Wuhan, Hubei Province.
            (2) On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization 
        headquarters in Geneva learned of pneumonia with an unknown 
        cause, not from Chinese authorities, but from a United States-
        based listserv, Pro-MED, a platform for sharing early, open-
        source intelligence about potential epidemics.
            (3) On January 9, 2020, the Chinese Communist Party 
        officially announced a coronavirus outbreak, 2 days after the 
        World Health Organization announced an outbreak and 8 days 
        after closing the Wuhan Hua'nan wet market.
            (4) The Chinese Communist Party continually suppressed 
        medical information, such as early knowledge of the risk of 
        human-to-human transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which 
        causes COVID-19, from doctors and medical professionals while 
        subjecting them to humiliating reprimands.
            (5) On January 20, 2020, the Chinese Communist Party 
        finally acknowledged that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be 
        transmitted human to human, despite denials as recently as 
        January 15, 2020.
            (6) On January 2, 2020, researchers in the People's 
        Republic of China completed a genomic analysis of the SARS-CoV-
        2 virus, but failed to share the results with the international 
        community until January 12, 2020.
            (7) On January 6, 2020, officials from the United States 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offered to visit the 
        People's Republic of China to help respond to the COVID-19 
        epidemic, but the offer was declined by the Chinese Communist 
        Party, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were 
        informed that United States medical researchers were not 
        permitted to enter the People's Republic of China until 
        February 16, 2020, as part of a World Health Organization 
        delegation.
            (8) The Chinese Communist Party exponentially increased the 
        spread of COVID-19 domestically and internationally by 
        continuing to permit international flights well after domestic 
        quarantines were put in place.
            (9) The Chinese Communist Party contributed to the 
        community spread of COVID-19 by, on January 18, 2020, 
        permitting a 40,000-family potluck banquet in the Bubuting 
        Community of Wuhan as part of the Lunar New Year festivities.
            (10) On March 12, 2020, officials within the Chinese 
        Communist Party knowingly spread disinformation that the SARS-
        CoV-2 virus had originated with the United States Armed Forces.
            (11) COVID-19 has decimated the global economy, caused 
        trillions of dollars in economic damage, and cost millions of 
        United States citizens their jobs.
            (12) As of the end of April 2020, COVID-19 has--
                    (A) infected more than 3,000,000 individuals 
                globally and almost 1,000,000 people in the United 
                States; and
                    (B) caused more than 200,000 deaths globally and 
                more than 50,000 deaths in the United States.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    It is the policy of the United States--
            (1) to fully investigate the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 
        virus, including the role the Government of the People's 
        Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party played in 
        withholding information and knowingly misinforming 
        international organizations and countries impacted by COVID-19;
            (2) to ensure that the Government of the People's Republic 
        of China immediately closes all operating wet markets that have 
        a potential to expose humans to health risks through the 
        introduction of zoonotic disease into the human population;
            (3) to draw international attention to--
                    (A) any violations by the Government of the 
                People's Republic of China of the fundamental rights of 
                the people of Hong Kong, as provided by the 
                International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; 
                and
                    (B) any encroachment on the autonomy guaranteed to 
                Hong Kong by the Basic Law of Hong Kong and the Joint 
                Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of 
                Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government 
                of the People's Republic of China on the Question of 
                Hong Kong, done at Beijing on December 19, 1984; and
            (4) to reduce the reliance of essential United States 
        industries on the People's Republic of China to fulfill supply 
        chain needs.

   TITLE I--SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

SEC. 101. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE OBSTRUCTION OR FAILURE OF THE 
              PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO COOPERATE IN INVESTIGATIONS 
              RELATING TO THE OUTBREAK OF COVID-19.

    (a) Certification Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the 
President shall submit to Congress--
            (1) a certification that the Government of the People's 
        Republic of China--
                    (A) is completely cooperating with any efforts 
                relating to the COVID-19 outbreak led by the United 
                States, partners of the United States, or any 
                institution affiliated with the United Nations;
                    (B) has prohibited the operation of wet markets 
                that have a potential to expose humans to health risks 
                through the introduction of zoonotic disease into the 
                human population; and
                    (C) has released and dropped all charges for anyone 
                arrested or detained in the People's Republic of China 
                since November 2019 relating to their participation in 
                the protests in Hong Kong relating to COVID-19; or
            (2) a report describing the reasons the President is not 
        able to make the certification described in paragraph (1).
    (b) Imposition of Sanctions and Prohibitions.--If the President is 
unable to make a certification described in paragraph (1) of subsection 
(a) by a date required by that subsection, the President may impose 2 
or more of--
            (1) the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect 
        to--
                    (A) any official of the Government of the People's 
                Republic of China;
                    (B) any entity owned, directed, or otherwise 
                controlled by that Government; and
                    (C) any individual associated with an entity 
                described in paragraph (2); or
            (2) the prohibition described in subsection (d).
    (c) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions that may be imposed with 
respect to an official, entity, or individual under this subsection are 
the following:
            (1) Property blocking.--The President may, pursuant to the 
        International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 
        seq.), block and prohibit all transactions in property and 
        interests in property of such an official, entity, or 
        individual (and, in the case of an official or other 
        individual, the immediate family members of the official or 
        individual) if such property and interests in property are in 
        the United States, come within the United States, or are or 
        come within the possession or control of a United States 
        person.
            (2) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or parole.--
                    (A) Visas, admission, or parole.--Notwithstanding 
                section 221 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
                U.S.C. 1201), the Secretary of State may deny a visa 
                to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security may deny 
                admission or parole into the United States for, such an 
                official or individual who is an alien.
                    (B) Current visas revoked.--
                            (i) In general.--Pursuant to section 221(i) 
                        of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
                        U.S.C. 1201(i)), the issuing consular officer, 
                        the Secretary of State, or the Secretary of 
                        Homeland Security (or a designee of any such 
                        officer or Secretary) may revoke any visa or 
                        other entry documentation issued to an alien 
                        described in subparagraph (A), regardless of 
                        when the visa or other documentation was 
                        issued.
                            (ii) Effect of revocation.--A revocation 
                        under clause (i) may take effect immediately 
                        and shall automatically cancel any other valid 
                        visa or entry documentation that is in the 
                        alien's possession.
            (3) Loans from united states financial institutions.--The 
        President may prohibit any United States financial institution 
        from making loans, underwriting, or providing credits to any 
        such entity unless the entity is determined by the United 
        States Government to be engaged in activities to relieve human 
        suffering and the loans or credits have been approved by the 
        United States Government for such activities.
            (4) Loans from and procurement by international financial 
        institutions.--The President shall direct the United States 
        executive director of each international financial institution 
        (as defined in section 1701(c) of the International Financial 
        Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262r(c))) to use the voice and vote 
        of the United States to oppose--
                    (A) any financial assistance from the international 
                financial institution that would benefit any such 
                entity; and
                    (B) the awarding by the international financial 
                institution of procurement contracts to any such 
                entity.
            (5) Limitation on chinese ownership interests in united 
        states issuers of securities.--
                    (A) In general.--The Securities and Exchange 
                Commission may prohibit a covered entity from listing 
                securities issued by the entity on a national 
                securities exchange if an entity or individual subject 
                to subsection (b) has a majority ownership interest in 
                the covered entity.
                    (B) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
                            (i) Covered entity.--The term ``covered 
                        entity'' means an entity--
                                    (I) that is incorporated under the 
                                laws of any State, or whose principal 
                                place of business is within a State; 
                                and
                                    (II) that produces components that 
                                may be used in--
                                            (aa) services supplied by 
                                        an entity subject to subsection 
                                        (b); or
                                            (bb) goods produced, or 
                                        exported, by an entity subject 
                                        to subsection (b).
                            (ii) Exchange; security.--The terms 
                        ``exchange'' and ``security'' have the meanings 
                        given those terms in section 3(a) of the 
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 
                        78c(a)).
                            (iii) Majority ownership interest.--An 
                        entity or individual holds a ``majority 
                        ownership interest'' in a covered entity if the 
                        entity or individual owns--
                                    (I) more shares in the covered 
                                entity than any other shareholder; and
                                    (II) enough shares in the covered 
                                entity to control decisions of the 
                                entity.
                            (iv) National securities exchange.--The 
                        term ``national securities exchange'' means an 
                        exchange that is registered as a national 
                        securities exchange under section 6 of the 
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 
                        78f).
    (d) Prohibition Against Student Visas for Chinese Nationals.--The 
Secretary of State may deny an alien who is a citizen or national of 
the People's Republic of China admission, parole, or other permission 
to enter the United States as a nonimmigrant described in subparagraph 
(F), (J), or (M) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)).
    (e) Application; Exceptions.--
            (1) Inapplicability of national emergency requirement.--The 
        requirements under section 202 of the International Emergency 
        Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply for 
        purposes of subsection (c)(1).
            (2) Exception for intelligence activities.--Sanctions under 
        this section shall not apply to any activity subject to the 
        reporting requirements under title V of the National Security 
        Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.) or any authorized 
        intelligence activities of the United States.
            (3) Exception relating to importation of goods.--
                    (A) In general.--The authorities and requirements 
                to impose sanctions under subsection (c)(1) shall not 
                include the authority or a requirement to impose 
                sanctions on the importation of goods.
                    (B) Good defined.--In this paragraph, the term 
                ``good'' means any article, natural or manmade 
                substance, material, supply or manufactured product, 
                including inspection and test equipment, and excluding 
                technical data.
            (4) Exception to comply with international obligations and 
        for law enforcement activities.--Sanctions under subsection 
        (c)(2) and the prohibition under subsection (d) shall not apply 
        with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling the alien 
        into the United States is necessary--
                    (A) to permit the United States to comply with the 
                Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United 
                Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and 
                entered into force November 21, 1947, between the 
                United Nations and the United States, or other 
                applicable international obligations; or
                    (B) to carry out or assist law enforcement activity 
                in the United States.
    (f) Implementation; Penalties.--
            (1) Implementation.--The President may exercise all 
        authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the 
        International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 
        1704) to carry out this section.
            (2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to 
        violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this 
        section or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry 
        out this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in 
        subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International 
        Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same 
        extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in 
        subsection (a) of that section.
    (g) Suspension; Reinstatement.--
            (1) In general.--The authority to impose sanctions or 
        prohibitions under this section, and any sanctions or 
        prohibitions so imposed, shall be suspended on the date on 
        which the President submits to Congress a certification 
        described in subsection (a)(1).
            (2) Effect of subsequent failure to certify.--If, after a 
        suspension of sanctions and prohibitions under paragraph (1), 
        the President is unable to submit a certification described in 
        paragraph (1) of subsection (a) at a time required by that 
        subsection, the authority to impose sanctions and prohibitions 
        under this section, and any sanctions or prohibitions 
        previously imposed under this section, shall be reinstated.
    (h) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Admission; admitted; alien.--The terms ``admission'', 
        ``admitted'', and ``alien'' have the meanings given those terms 
        in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1101).
            (2) United states person.--The term ``United States 
        person'' means--
                    (A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully 
                admitted for permanent residence to the United States; 
                or
                    (B) an entity organized under the laws of the 
                United States or any jurisdiction within the United 
                States, including a foreign branch of such an entity.

TITLE II--ENSURING A SAFE AND SECURE SUPPLY OF PHARMACEUTICALS FOR THE 
                             UNITED STATES

SEC. 201. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of 
Food and Drugs shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees--
            (1) a list of all brand name and generic drugs and 
        corresponding active pharmaceutical ingredients that the 
        Commissioner determines are--
                    (A) critical to the health and safety of United 
                States consumers; and
                    (B) are exclusively produced, or incorporate active 
                pharmaceutical ingredients produced, in the People's 
                Republic of China;
            (2)(A) a certification that the pharmaceutical industry in 
        the People's Republic of China is being regulated for safety, 
        either by authorities of the Government of the People's 
        Republic of China or by the Food and Drug Administration, to 
        substantially the same degree as the United States 
        pharmaceutical industry; or
            (B) if the Commissioner is unable to make a certification 
        described in subparagraph (A), a plan to protect the people of 
        the United States from unsafe or contaminated drugs 
        manufactured in the People's Republic of China; and
            (3) a report on imports from the People's Republic of China 
        of all personal protective equipment that is intended for use 
        as a medical device, including--
                    (A) information on the percentage of demand in the 
                United States for such equipment that is met by such 
                imports; and
                    (B) an analysis of the percentage of such imports 
                that meet the standards of the Commissioner for use in 
                the United States.
    (b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on 
        Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

  TITLE III--ENCOURAGING THE RETURN AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNITED STATES 
                                INDUSTRY

SEC. 301. INCREASE IN ALTERNATIVE SIMPLIFIED RESEARCH CREDIT.

    (a) In General.--Subparagraph (A) of section 41(c)(4) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``14 percent'' and 
inserting ``20 percent''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Clause (ii) of section 41(c)(4)(B) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``6 percent'' 
and inserting ``10 percent''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.

SEC. 302. SPECIAL RULES FOR CERTAIN UNITED STATES MANUFACTURERS.

    (a) Increase in Research Credit.--Section 41(c)(4) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
                    ``(C) Special rules for qualified manufacturers.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In the case of a 
                        taxpayer who meets the requirements of clause 
                        (ii) for the taxable year--
                                    ``(I) subparagraph (A) shall be 
                                applied by substituting `30 percent' 
                                for `20 percent', and
                                    ``(II) subparagraph (B)(ii) shall 
                                be applied by substituting `14 percent' 
                                for `10 percent'.
                            ``(ii) Requirements.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--A taxpayer meets 
                                the requirements of this clause if not 
                                less than 50 percent of the gross 
                                receipts for applicable products sold 
                                by the taxpayer during the taxable year 
                                are produced or manufactured in whole 
                                or in significant part within the 
                                United States.
                                    ``(II) Applicable products.--For 
                                purposes of this clause, the term 
                                `applicable product' means any product 
                                with respect to which a credit was 
                                allowed under this section to the 
                                taxpayer in a preceding taxable 
                                year.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.

SEC. 303. DOMESTIC PURCHASING REQUIREMENT FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
              EQUIPMENT ACQUISITIONS FOR THE STRATEGIC NATIONAL 
              STOCKPILE.

    (a) Requirement.--Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), 
funds appropriated or otherwise available to the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services for the Strategic National Stockpile may not be used 
for the procurement of an item described in subsection (b) if the item 
is not grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States.
    (b) Covered Items.--An item described in this subsection is an 
article or item of--
            (1) personal protective equipment or clothing and the 
        materials and components thereof, other than sensors, 
        electronics, or other items added to, and not normally 
        associated with, clothing (and the materials and components 
        thereof);
            (2) surgical masks, respirator masks, face shields, 
        surgical and privacy gowns, head and foot coverings, testing 
        swabs, bedding, or other critical medical supplies;
            (3) cotton and other natural fiber products, woven silk or 
        woven silk blends, spun silk yarn for cartridge cloth, 
        synthetic fabric or coated synthetic fabric (including all 
        textile fibers and yarns that are for use in such fabrics), 
        canvas products, or wool (whether in the form of fiber or yarn 
        or contained in fabrics, materials, or manufactured articles); 
        or
            (4) any item of individual equipment manufactured from or 
        containing such fibers, yarns, fabrics, or materials.
    (c) Availability Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to the 
extent that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that 
a sufficient quantity of a satisfactory quality of any such article or 
item described in subsection (b) that is grown, reprocessed, reused, or 
produced in the United States cannot be procured as, and when, needed 
at United States market prices. This section shall not apply to covered 
items that are, or include, materials determined to be non-available in 
accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 25.104 Nonavailable 
Articles.
    (d) Exception for Small Purchases.--Subsection (a) shall not apply 
to purchases for amounts that do not exceed $150,000. A proposed 
purchase or contract for an amount in excess of $150,000 may not be 
divided into several purchases or contracts for lesser amounts in order 
to qualify for the exception under this subsection.
    (e) Geographic Coverage.--In this section, the term ``United 
States'' includes the possessions of the United States.
    (f) Notification Required Within 7 Days After Contract Award if 
Certain Exceptions Applied.--In the case of any contract for the 
procurement of an item described in subsection (b), if the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services applies the exception described in subsection 
(c) with respect to that contract, the Secretary shall, not later than 
7 days after the awarding of the contract, post a notification that the 
exception has been applied on the internet website maintained by the 
General Services Administration known as FedBizOps.gov (or any 
successor site).
    (g) Training During Fiscal Year 2021.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        shall ensure that each member of the acquisition workforce in 
        the Department of Health and Human Services who participates 
        personally and substantially in acquisitions on a regular basis 
        receives training during fiscal year 2021 on the requirements 
        of this section and the regulations implementing this section.
            (2) Inclusion of information in new training programs.--The 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services shall ensure that any 
        training program for the acquisition workforce developed or 
        implemented after fiscal year 2021, includes comprehensive 
        information on the requirements described in paragraph (1).
    (h) Application to Other Agencies.--If responsibility for 
maintaining the Strategic National Stockpile is transferred from the 
Department of Health and Human Services to any other Federal department 
or agency, the provisions of this section shall apply to the head of 
such department or agency.
    (i) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to 
contracts entered into by the Department of Health and Human Services 
beginning 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

                  TITLE IV--MATTERS RELATING TO TAIWAN

SEC. 401. PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized 
        agency of the United Nations, charged with coordinating health 
        efforts within the United Nations system. The World Health 
        Assembly (WHA) is the decision-making body of the WHO, which 
        convenes annually in May to set the policies and priorities of 
        the organization. Statehood is not a requirement for attendance 
        at the WHA, and numerous observers, including nonmembers and 
        nongovernmental organizations, attended the most recent WHA in 
        May 2018.
            (2) Taiwan began seeking to participate in the WHO as an 
        observer in 1997. In 2009, with strong support from successive 
        United States Administrations, Congress, and like-minded WHO 
        Member States, and during a period of improved Cross-Strait 
        relations, Taiwan received an invitation to attend the WHA as 
        an observer under the name ``Chinese Taipei''. Taiwan received 
        the same invitation each year until 2016, when following the 
        election of President Tsai-Ing Wen of the Democratic 
        Progressive Party, Taiwan's engagement in the international 
        community began facing increased resistance from the People's 
        Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan's invitation to the 2016 WHA 
        was received late and included new language conditioning 
        Taiwan's participation on the PRC's ``one China principle''. In 
        2017 and 2018, Taiwan did not receive an invitation to the WHA.
            (3) Taiwan remains a model contributor to world health, 
        having provided financial and technical assistance to respond 
        to numerous global health challenges. Taiwan has invested over 
        $6,000,000,000 in international medical and humanitarian aid 
        efforts impacting over 80 countries since 1996. In 2014, Taiwan 
        responded to the Ebola crisis by donating $1,000,000 and 
        providing 100,000 sets of personal protective equipment. 
        Through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, the 
        United States and Taiwan have jointly conducted training 
        programs for experts to combat MERS, Dengue Fever, and Zika. 
        These diseases know no borders, and Taiwan's needless exclusion 
        from global health cooperation increases the dangers presented 
        by global pandemics.
            (4) Taiwan's international engagement has faced increased 
        resistance from the PRC. Taiwan was not invited to the 2016 
        Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization 
        (ICAO), despite participating as a guest at the organization's 
        prior summit in 2013. Taiwan's requests to participate in the 
        General Assembly of the International Criminal Police 
        Organization (INTERPOL) have also been rejected. In May 2017, 
        PRC delegates disrupted a meeting of the Kimberley Process on 
        conflict diamonds held in Perth, Australia, until delegates 
        from Taiwan were asked to leave. Since 2016, the Democratic 
        Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, the Republic of Panama, the 
        Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, the Republic of El Salvador, 
        the Solomon Islands, and Kiribati have terminated longstanding 
        diplomatic relationships with Taiwan and granted diplomatic 
        recognition to the PRC.
            (5) Congress has established a policy of support for 
        Taiwan's participation in international bodies that address 
        shared transnational challenges, particularly in the WHO. 
        Congress passed H.R. 1794 in the 106th Congress, H.R. 428 in 
        the 107th Congress, and S. 2092 in the 108th Congress to direct 
        the Secretary of State to establish a strategy for, and to 
        report annually to Congress on, efforts to obtain observer 
        status for Taiwan at the WHA. Congress also passed H.R. 1151 in 
        the 113th Congress, directing the Secretary to report on a 
        strategy to gain observer status for Taiwan at the ICAO 
        Assembly, and H.R. 1853 in the 114th Congress, directing the 
        Secretary to report on a strategy to gain observer status for 
        Taiwan at the INTERPOL Assembly. However, since 2017 Taiwan has 
        not received an invitation to attend any of these events as an 
        observer.
    (b) Augmentation of Report Concerning the Participation of Taiwan 
in the World Health Organization.--
            (1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law 
        108-235 (118 Stat. 656) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new paragraph:
            ``(3) An account of the changes and improvements the 
        Secretary of State has made to the United States plan to 
        endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the World 
        Health Assembly, following any annual meetings of the World 
        Health Assembly at which Taiwan did not obtain observer 
        status.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
        shall take effect and apply beginning with the first report 
        required under subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law 108-
        235 that is submitted after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act.

SEC. 402. BRIEFING ON UNITED STATES STRATEGY REGARDING TAIWAN'S 
              INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for 3 years, the 
Secretary of State shall provide to the appropriate congressional 
committees a briefing on actions taken by the United States to reaffirm 
and strengthen Taiwan's official and unofficial diplomatic 
relationships.
    (b) Elements.--The briefing required by subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements:
            (1) A description of the actions taken by the United States 
        commencing May 20, 2016, to consult with governments around the 
        world, including the governments that maintain official 
        diplomatic relations with Taiwan, with the purpose of inducing 
        those governments to maintain official diplomatic relations 
        with Taiwan or otherwise strengthen unofficial relations with 
        Taiwan.
            (2) An enumeration of specific countries of concern, if 
        any, and a description of the actions taken, or actions 
        anticipated, by those governments, commencing May 20, 2016, to 
        alter the formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan or to otherwise 
        downgrade official or unofficial relations.
            (3) A plan of action to engage with the governments of the 
        countries identified in paragraphs (1) and (2) and increase 
        cooperation with respect to Taiwan.
    (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the 
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives.

SEC. 403. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASIA 
              REASSURANCE INITIATIVE ACT.

    It is the sense of Congress that the full and timely implementation 
of section 209 of the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (Public 
Law 115-409; 132 Stat. 5387), which reiterates longstanding bipartisan 
United States policy, is critical to demonstrate United States support 
for Taiwan.
                                 <all>