Taiwan Fellowship Act

Bill: 117-hr-3084
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-7]
Introduced: 2021-05-11
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Area studies and international education

Asia

China

Congressional officers and employees

Congressional oversight

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Foreign language and bilingual programs

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government studies and investigations

International exchange and broadcasting

Taiwan
Latest action: action_date: 2021-05-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-05-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Taiwan Fellowship Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of State to establish a program to provide fellowships in Taiwan to qualifying U.S. government employees. </p> <p>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. (In 1979, the United States established diplomatic relations with China and ended formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. 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.)</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3084 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 11, 2021 Mr. Bera (for himself, Mr. Chabot , Mr. Case , Mr. Fitzpatrick , Mrs. Napolitano , and Mr. Taylor ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL 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 et seq.) affirmed United States policy 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 ), the United States has grown its strategic partnership with Taiwan’s vibrant democracy of 23,000,000 people. (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) a key priority of expanding people-to-people exchanges, which was outlined in President Donald J. Trump’s 2017 National Security Strategy; (B) President Joseph R. Biden’s commitment to Taiwan, a leading democracy and a critical economic and security partner , as expressed in his March 2021 Interim National Security Strategic Guidance; and (C) April 2021 guidance from the Department of State based on a review required under the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 (subtitle B of title III of division FF of Public Law 116–260 ) to encourage U.S. government engagement with Taiwan that reflects our deepening unofficial relationship . (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 agencies of the United States Government to Taiwan for intensive study in Mandarin Chinese and placement as Fellows with the governing authorities on Taiwan or a Taiwanese civic institution; (2) to expand United States Government expertise in Mandarin Chinese language skills and understanding of the politics, history, and culture of Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region by providing eligible United States personnel the opportunity to acquire such skills and understanding through the Taiwan Fellowship Program established under section 3; and (3) to better position the United States to advance its economic, security, and human rights interests and values in the Indo-Pacific region. 3. Taiwan Fellowship Program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Agency head The term agency head means, in the case of the executive branch of United States Government, or in the case of a legislative branch agency specified in paragraph (2), the head of the respective agency. (2) Agency of the United States Government The term agency of the United States Government includes the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service, and the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission of the legislative branch, as well as any agency of the executive branch. (3) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (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 ; and (D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives . (4) Detailee The term detailee means an employee of an agency of the United States Government on loan to the American Institute in Taiwan, without a change of position from the agency at which such employee is employed. (5) Implementing partner The term implementing partner means any United States organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code that— (A) is selected through a competitive process; (B) performs logistical, administrative, and other functions, as determined by the Department of State and the American Institute of Taiwan, in support of the Taiwan Fellowship Program; and (C) enters into a cooperative agreement with the American Institute in Taiwan to administer the Taiwan Fellowship Program. (b) Establishment of Taiwan Fellowship Program (1) Establishment The Secretary of State shall establish the Taiwan Fellowship Program (hereafter referred to in this section as the Program ) to provide a fellowship opportunity in Taiwan of up to two years for eligible United States citizens through the cooperative agreement established in paragraph (2). The Department of State, in consultation with the American Institute in Taiwan and the implementing partner, may modify the name of the Program. (2) Cooperative agreements (A) In general The American Institute in Taiwan shall use amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subsection (f)(1) to enter into an annual or multi-year cooperative agreement with an appropriate implementing partner. (B) Fellowships The Department of State, in consultation with the American Institute in Taiwan and, as appropriate, the implementing partner, shall award to eligible United States citizens, subject to available funding— (i) not fewer than five fellowships during the first two years of the Program; and (ii) not fewer than ten fellowships during each of the remaining years of the Program. (3) 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, shall— (A) 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 governing authorities on Taiwan; and (B) begin the process of selecting an implementing partner, which— (i) shall agree to meet all of the legal requirements required to operate in Taiwan; and (ii) shall be composed of staff who demonstrate significant experience managing exchange programs in the Indo-Pacific region. (4) Curriculum (A) First year During the first year of each fellowship under this subsection, each fellow should study— (i) the Mandarin Chinese language; (ii) the people, history, and political climate on Taiwan; and (iii) the issues affecting the relationship between the United States and the Indo-Pacific region. (B) 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— (i) a parliamentary office, ministry, or other agency of the governing authorities on Taiwan; or (ii) an organization outside of the governing authorities on Taiwan, 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. (5) Flexible fellowship duration Notwithstanding any requirement under this section, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the American Institute in Taiwan and, as appropriate, the implementing partner, may award fellowships that have a duration of between nine months and two years, and may alter the curriculum requirements under paragraph (4) for such purposes. (6) Sunset The Program shall terminate ten years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Program requirements (1) Eligibility requirements A United States citizen is eligible for a fellowship under this section if he or she— (A) is an employee of the United States Government; (B) has received at least one exemplary performance review in his or her current United States Government role within at least the last three years prior to the beginning the fellowship; (C) has at least two years of experience in any branch of the United States Government; (D) has a demonstrated professional or educational background in the relationship between the United States and countries in the Indo-Pacific region; and (E) has demonstrated his or her commitment to further service in the United States Government. (2) Responsibilities of fellows Each recipient of a fellowship under this section shall agree, as a condition of such fellowship— (A) 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; (B) to refrain from engaging in any intelligence or intelligence-related activity on behalf of the United States Government; and (C) to continue Federal Government employment for a period of not less than four years after the conclusion of the fellowship or for not less than two years for a fellowship that is one year or shorter. (3) Responsibilities of implementing partner (A) Selection of fellows The implementing partner, in close coordination with the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan, shall— (i) make efforts to recruit fellowship candidates who reflect the diversity of the United States; (ii) select fellows for the Program based solely on merit, with appropriate supervision from the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan; and (iii) prioritize the selection of candidates willing to serve a fellowship lasting one year or longer. (B) First year The implementing partner should provide each fellow in the first year (or shorter duration, as jointly determined by the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan for those who are not serving a two-year fellowship) with— (i) intensive Mandarin Chinese language training; and (ii) courses in the politic, culture, and history of Taiwan, China, and the broader Indo-Pacific. (C) 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 subparagraph (B) to the extent that a fellow has Mandarin Chinese language skills, knowledge of the topic described in subparagraph (B)(ii), or for other related reasons approved by the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan. If any of the training requirements are waived for a fellow serving a two-year fellowship, the training portion of his or her fellowship may be shortened to the extent appropriate. (D) 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 one full-time staff member in Taiwan— (i) to liaise with the American Institute in Taiwan and the governing authorities on Taiwan; and (ii) to serve as the primary in-country point of contact for the recipients of fellowships under this section and their dependents. (E) Other functions The implementing partner should perform other functions in association in support of the Program, including logistical and administrative functions, as prescribed by the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan. (4) Noncompliance (A) In general Any fellow who fails to comply with the requirements under this section shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan for— (i) the Federal funds expended for the fellow’s participation in the fellowship, as set forth in subparagraphs (B) and (C); and (ii) interest accrued on such funds (calculated at the prevailing rate). (B) Full reimbursement Any fellow who violates subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan in an amount equal to the sum of— (i) all of the Federal funds expended for the fellow’s participation in the fellowship; and (ii) interest on the amount specified in clause (i), which shall be calculated at the prevailing rate. (C) Pro rata reimbursement Any fellow who violates paragraph (2)(C) shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan in an amount equal to the difference between— (i) the amount specified in subparagraph (B); and (ii) 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 paragraph (2)(C) during which the fellow did not remain employed by the United States Government. (5) Annual report Not later than 90 days after the selection of the first class of fellows under this Act, and annually thereafter for ten years, the Department of State shall offer to brief the appropriate congressional committees regarding the following issues: (A) An assessment of the performance of the implementing partner in fulfilling the purposes of this section. (B) The number of applicants each year, the number of applicants willing to serve a fellowship lasting one year or longer, and the number of such applicants selected for the fellowship. (C) 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. (D) The names of the parliamentary offices, ministries, other agencies of the governing authorities on Taiwan, and nongovernmental institutions to which each fellow was assigned. (E) Any recommendations, as appropriate, to improve the implementation of the Program, including added flexibilities in the administration of the program. (F) An assessment of the Program’s value upon the relationship between the United States and Taiwan or the United States and Asian countries. (6) Annual financial audit (A) 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. (B) Location Each audit under subparagraph (A) shall be conducted at the place or places where the financial records of the implementing partner are normally kept. (C) Access to documents The implementing partner shall make available to the accountants conducting an audit under subparagraph (A)— (i) 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 (ii) full facilities for verifying transactions with the balances or securities held by depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians. (D) Report (i) In general Not later than six months after the end of each fiscal year, the implementing partner shall provide a report of the audit conducted for such fiscal year under subparagraph (A) to the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan. (ii) 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— (aa) all contracts and cooperative agreements requiring payments greater than $5,000; and (bb) any payments of compensation, salaries, or fees at a rate greater than $5,000 per year. (iii) Copies Each audit report shall be produced in sufficient copies for distribution to the public. (d) Taiwan fellows on detail from Government service (1) In general (A) Detail authorized With the approval of the Secretary of State, an agency head may detail, for a period of not more than two 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 purpose of assignment to the governing authorities on Taiwan or an organization described in subsection (b)(4)(B)(ii). (B) Agreement Each detailee shall enter into a written agreement with the Federal Government before receiving a fellowship, in which the fellow shall agree— (i) to continue in the service of the sponsoring agency at the end of fellowship for a period of at least four years (or at least two years if the fellowship duration is one year or shorter) unless such detailee is involuntarily separated from the service of such agency; and (ii) to pay to the American Institute in Taiwan any additional expenses incurred by the United States 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. (C) Exception The payment agreed to under subparagraph (B)(ii) 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. (2) Status as Government employee A detailee— (A) is deemed, for the purpose of preserving allowances, privileges, rights, seniority, and other benefits, to be an employee of the sponsoring agency; (B) 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 (C) may be assigned to a position with an entity described in subsection (b)(4)(B)(i) if acceptance of such position does not involve— (i) the taking of an oath of allegiance to another government; or (ii) the acceptance of compensation or other benefits from any foreign government by such detailee. (3) Responsibilities of sponsoring agency (A) In general The agency of the United States Government 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— (i) a living quarters allowance to cover the cost of housing in Taiwan; (ii) a cost of living allowance to cover any possible higher costs of living in Taiwan; (iii) a temporary quarters subsistence allowance for up to seven days if the fellow is unable to find housing immediately upon arriving in Taiwan; (iv) 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; (v) 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 (vi) an economy-class airline ticket to and from Taiwan for each fellow and the fellow’s immediate family. (B) 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 subparagraph (A) if such modification is warranted by fiscal circumstances. (4) No financial liability The American Institute in Taiwan, the implementing partner, and any governing 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. (5) Reimbursement Fellows may be detailed under paragraph (1)(A) without reimbursement to the United States by the American Institute in Taiwan. (6) Allowances and benefits Detailees may be paid by the American Institute in Taiwan for the allowances and benefits listed in paragraph (3). (e) GAO report Not later than one year prior to the sunset of the Program pursuant to subsection (b)(6), the Comptroller General of the United States shall transmit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that includes the following: (1) An analysis of United States Government participants in the Program, including the number of applicants and the number of fellowships undertaken, the places of employment. (2) An assessment of the costs and benefits for participants in the Program and for the United States Government of such fellowships. (3) An analysis of the financial impact of the fellowship on United States Government offices that have detailed fellows to participate in the Program. (4) Recommendations, if any, on how to improve the Program. (f) Funding (1) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the American Institute in Taiwan— (A) for fiscal year 2022, $2,900,000, of which $500,000 should be used by an appropriate implementing partner to launch the Program; and (B) for fiscal year 2023, and each succeeding fiscal year, $2,400,000. (2) Private sources The implementing partner selected to implement the 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.