In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Assessing Progress in Haiti Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) On January 12, 2010, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the
Richter magnitude scale struck the country of Haiti.
(2) According to the United States Geological Survey
(USGS)--
(A) the earthquake epicenter was located
approximately 15 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, the
capital of Haiti; and
(B) the earthquake was followed by 59 aftershocks
of magnitude 4.5 or greater, the most severe measuring
6.0.
(3) According to the Government of Haiti, more than 316,000
people died as a result of the earthquake, including 103
citizens of the United States and more than 100 United Nations
personnel.
(4) According to the United Nations and the International
Organization for Migration--
(A) an estimated 3,000,000 people were directly
affected by the disaster, nearly one-third of the
country's population; and
(B) more than 2,100,000 people were displaced from
their homes to settlements.
(5) Casualty numbers and infrastructure damage, including
to roads, ports, hospitals, and residential dwellings, place
the earthquake as the worst cataclysm to hit Haiti in over two
centuries and, proportionally, one of the world's worst natural
disasters in modern times.
(6) The Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) conducted by
the Government of Haiti, the United Nations, the World Bank,
the Inter-American Development Bank, and other experts
estimates that damage and economic losses totaled
$7,804,000,000, approximately 120 percent of Haiti's gross
domestic product in 2009.
(7) Haiti is the poorest, least developed country in the
Western Hemisphere with, prior to the earthquake--
(A) more than 70 percent of Haitians living on less
than $2 per day; and
(B) a ranking of 149 out of 182 countries on the
United Nations Human Development Index.
(8) House Resolution 1021, which was passed on January 21,
2010, on a vote of 411 to 1 expressed--
(A) the House of Representatives' ''deepest
condolences and sympathy for the horrific loss of
life'' caused by the earthquake; and
(B) bipartisan support for Haiti's recovery and
reconstruction.
(9) The initial emergency response of the men and women of
the United States Government, led by the United States Agency
for International Development and United States Southern
Command, was swift and resolute.
(10) United States urban search and rescue (USAR) teams
were immediately activated after the earthquake and deployed
from Fairfax County, Virginia, Los Angeles County, California,
Miami-Dade, Florida, the City of Miami, Florida, and Virginia
Beach, Virginia, to assist the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) Disaster Assistance Response
Team (DART), and New York City's first responders asked the
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to activate a
New York City urban search and rescue shortly thereafter.
(11) A month after the earthquake, the House of
Representatives unanimously passed House Resolution 1059 which
expressed gratitude to these USAR units, and highlighted that
the 511 United States rescue workers comprised roughly one-
third of the entire international USAR effort in Haiti, and
more than 130 people were rescued from under the rubble in
Haiti by these units.
(12) Individuals, businesses, and philanthropic
organizations across the United States and throughout the
international community responded in support of Haiti and its
populace during this crisis, sometimes in innovative ways such
as fundraising through text messaging.
(13) The Haitian diaspora in the United States, which was
integral to emergency relief efforts--
(A) has annually contributed significant monetary
support to Haiti through remittances; and
(B) continues to seek opportunities to partner with
the United States Agency for International Development
and other agencies to substantively contribute to the
reconstruction of Haiti.
(14) Significant challenges still remain in Haiti as it
works to recover and rebuild.
(15) According to the International Organization for
Migration, approximately 680,000 people remain in spontaneous
and organized camps in Haiti.
(16) According to numerous nongovernmental organizations
and United States contractors, the pace of reconstruction has
lagged significantly behind the original emergency relief
phase.
(17) The widespread irregularities that occurred in the
elections held in Haiti on November 28, 2010, led to outbursts
of violence which undermined the recovery efforts.
(18) On October 21, 2010, an outbreak of cholera was
detected in the Lower Artibonite region.
(19) Initial efforts to contain the epidemic were disrupted
by Hurricane Tomas and resulting widespread flooding, which led
to the spreading and entrenchment of the disease throughout the
country.
(20) According to the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and
Population, as of March 28, 2011--
(A) approximately 4,766 people have died from
cholera; and
(B) approximately 270,991 have been infected from
the disease.
(21) According to the Pan American Health Organization and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cholera could
spread to as many as 400,000 people within the first year of
the epidemic, potentially causing 7,600 deaths at the current
case fatality rate.
(22) The United States has provided more than $62,523,017
worth of assistance to combat the cholera epidemic, including
by assisting with stockpiling health commodities, equipping
cholera treatments centers, providing public information, and
improving water and sanitation systems.
(23) The efforts to combat the cholera epidemic have helped
to drive the mortality rate from cholera down from nearly 7
percent to 1.7 percent of all contracted cases as of February
25, 2011.
(24) Throughout the series of crises, the people of Haiti
continue to demonstrate unwavering resilience, dignity, and
courage.
(25) On March 20, 2011, presidential and parliamentary
elections were held in Haiti without major disruptions or
problems.
(26) At the international donors conference ''Towards a New
Future for Haiti'' held on March 31, 2010, 59 donors pledged
over $5,000,000,000 to support Haiti.
(27) The United Nations Office of the Special Envoy for
Haiti estimates that nearly $1,900,000,000 has been disbursed,
with an additional amount of approximately $2,000,000,000
committed.
(28) Haiti will need the support of the international
community in order to confront the ongoing cholera epidemic and
to promote reconstruction and development.

SEC. 3. REPORT.

(a) Report Required.--Not later than six months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President, in consultation with the
heads of all relevant agencies, including the Department of State, the
United States Agency for International Development, the Department of
Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention shall transmit to Congress a report
on the status of post-earthquake humanitarian, reconstruction, and
development efforts in Haiti, including efforts to prevent the spread
of cholera and treat persons infected with the disease.
(b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
a description, analysis, and evaluation of the--
(1) overall progress of relief, recovery, and
reconstruction in Haiti, including--
(A) programs and projects of the United States
Government;
(B) programs and projects to protect vulnerable
populations, such as internally displaced persons,
children, women and girls, and persons with
disabilities; and
(C) projects to improve water, sanitation, and
health, and plans for improvements in these areas in
the long-term;
(2) extent to which United States and international efforts
are in line with the priorities of the Government of Haiti and
are actively engaging and working through Haitian ministries
and local authorities;
(3) coordination among United States Government agencies,
and coordination between the United States Government and
United Nations agencies, international financial institutions,
and other bilateral donors;
(4) mechanisms for communicating the progress of recovery
and reconstruction efforts to Haitian citizens, as well as
recommendations on how these can be improved;
(5) mechanisms through which Haitian civil society,
including vulnerable populations, is actively participating in
all major stages of recovery and reconstruction efforts, and
recommendations on how these can be improved;
(6) mechanisms through which the Haitian diaspora is
involved in recovery and reconstruction efforts; and
(7) suitability of Haiti to receive aliens who are removed,
excluded, or deported from the United States pursuant to United
States law, and steps Haiti is taking to strengthen its
capacity in this regard.
(c) Use of Previously Appropriated Funds.--Funding for the report
required under subsection (a) shall derive from existing discretionary
funds of the departments and agencies specified in such subsection.
[A]: Assessing Progress in Haiti Act - Directs the President to report to Congress on the status of post-earthquake humanitarian, reconstruction, and development efforts in Haiti, including efforts to prevent the spread of cholera and treat persons infected with the disease.

Requires such report to evaluate: (1) the overall progress of relief, recovery, and reconstruction in Haiti, including U.S. government programs, programs to protect vulnerable populations, and projects to improve water, sanitation, and health; (2) the extent to which U.S. and international efforts are in line with the government of Haiti's priorities and are working through Haitian ministries and local authorities; (3) coordination among U.S. government agencies and coordination between the U.S. government and U.N. agencies, international financial institutions, and other bilateral donors; (4) mechanisms for communicating the progress of recovery and reconstruction to Haitian citizens; (5) mechanisms through which Haitian civil society and the Haitian diaspora are participating in recovery and reconstruction; and (6) Haiti's suitability to receive aliens who are removed, excluded, or deported from the United States and steps Haiti is taking to strengthen its capacity in this regard.

[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Independent Ethics Commission Act of
2007''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION.

(a) Establishment.--There is established an independent ethics
commission within the House of Representatives to be known as the
Independent Ethics Committee (in this Act referred to as the
''Commission'').
(b) Membership and Terms of Office.--(1) The Commission shall
consist of 9 commissioners, 4 appointed by the Speaker and 4 by the
minority leader of the House, and one selected by the affirmative vote
of two-thirds of the 8 appointed commissioners for a term of 5 years.
No commissioner may serve for more than 5 years.
(2) Commissioners shall be appointed for terms of 5 years, except
that of the commissioners first appointed, 2 appointed by the Speaker
and 2 by the minority leader shall be for 3-year terms and 2 appointed
by the Speaker and 2 by the minority leader shall be for 4-year terms
as designated by the Speaker and the minority leader at the time of
appointment.
(c) Qualifications.--Only former Federal judges shall be eligible
for appointment to the Commission.
(1) Disqualifications for appointments.--
(A) Lobbying.--No individual who has been a
lobbyist registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act
of 1995 or engages in, or is otherwise employed in,
lobbying of the Congress or who is an agent of a
foreign principal registered under the Foreign Agents
Registration Act within the 4-year period immediately
preceding appointment shall be eligible for appointment
to, or service on, the Commission.
(B) Incompatible office.--No member of the
Commission appointed under subsection (b) may be a
Member of the House of Representatives or Senator.
(2) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled
in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(d) Compensation.--Members shall each be entitled to receive the
daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay in effect for
Level III of the Executive Schedule for each day (including travel
time) during which they are engaged in the actual performance of duties
vested in the Commission.
(e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum.
(f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call a majority of
its members.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

(a) Duties.--The Commission is authorized--
(1) to receive, monitor, and oversee financial disclosure
and other reports filed by Members of the House and officers
and employees of the House under the Ethics in Government Act
of 1978, and reports filed by registered lobbyists under the
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995;
(2) to investigate any alleged violation, by a Member,
officer, or employee of the House of Representatives, of any
rule or other standard of conduct applicable to the conduct of
such Member, officer, or employee under House rules in the
performance of his duties or the discharge of his
responsibilities;
(3) to present a case of probable ethics violations to the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of
Representatives;
(4) to make recommendations to the Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct of the House of Representatives that it
report to the appropriate Federal or State authorities any
substantial evidence of a violation by a Member, officer, or
employee of the House of Representatives of any law applicable
to the performance of his duties or the discharge of his
responsibilities, which may have been disclosed in an
investigation by the Office;
(5) to provide information and informal guidance to
Members, officers and employees of the House of Representatives
regarding any rules and other standards of conduct applicable
to such individuals in their official capacities, and develop
and carry out periodic educational briefings for Members,
officers, and employees of the House of Representatives on
those laws, rules, regulations, or other standards; and
(6) to give consideration to the request of any Member,
officer, or employee of the House of Representatives for a
formal advisory opinion or other formal ruling, subject to the
review of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the
House of Representatives, as applicable, with respect to the
general propriety of any current or proposed conduct of such
Member, officer, or employee and, with appropriate deletions to
assure the privacy of the individual concerned, to publish such
opinion for the guidance of other Members, officers, and
employees of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 4. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

(a) Hearings and Evidence.--The Commission may for the purpose of
carrying out this Act--
(1) hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and
places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, administer
such oaths; and
(2) subject to subsection (b), require, by subpoena or
otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and
the production of such books, records, correspondence,
memoranda, papers, and documents, as the Commission may
determine advisable.
(b) Subpoenas.--A subpoena may be issued only with a majority of
the Commission.
(c) Obtaining Information.--Upon request of the Commission, the
head of any agency or instrumentality of the Government shall furnish
information deemed necessary by the Commission to enable it to carry
out its duties.
(d) Referrals to the Department of Justice.--Whenever the
Commission has reason to believe that a violation of the Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995 may have occurred, that matter may be referred
to the Department of Justice for it to investigate.
(e) General Audits.--The Commission shall have the authority to
conduct general audits of filings under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of
1995.

SEC. 5. INVESTIGATIONS AND INTERACTION WITH THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON
STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

(a) Notification.--Whenever the Commission determines that there
are sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation--
(1) the Commission shall notify the Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct of this determination;
(2) the applicable committee may overrule the determination
of the Commission if, within 10 legislative days--
(A) the committee by an affirmative, roll-call vote
of two-thirds of the full committee votes to overrule
the determination of the Commission;
(B) the committee issues a public report detailing
its reasoning for overruling the Commission;
(C) the vote of each member of the committee on
such roll-call vote is included in the report;
(D) dissenting members are allowed to issue their
own report detailing their reasons for disagreeing with
the majority vote; and
(E) if the committee votes to overrule the
determination of the Commission pursuant to
subparagraph (B), the Commission may publish and make
available to the general public a report detailing the
reasons that the Commission concluded there were
sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation.
(b) Conducting Investigations.--(1) If the Commission determines
that there are sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation and his
determination is not overruled under subsection (a)(5), the Commission
shall conduct an investigation to determine if probable cause exists
that a violation occurred.
(2) As part of an investigation, the Commission may--
(A) administer oaths;
(B) issue subpoenas;
(C) compel the attendance of witnesses and the production
of papers, books, accounts, documents, and testimony; and
(D) take the deposition of witnesses.
(3) If a person disobeys or refuses to comply with a subpoena, or
if a witness refuses to testify to a matter, he may be held in contempt
of Congress.
(c) Presentation of Case to House Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct.--(1) If the Commission determines, upon conclusion of
an investigation, that probable cause exists that an ethics violation
has occurred, the Commission shall notify the Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct of the House of Representatives of this determination.
(2) The committee may overrule the determination of the Commission
if, within 10 legislative days--
(A) the committee by an affirmative, roll-call vote of two-
thirds of the full committee votes to overrule the
determination of the Commission;
(B) the committee issues a public report detailing its
reasoning for overruling the Commission;
(C) the vote of each member of the committee on such roll-
call vote is included in the report; and
(D) dissenting members are allowed to issue their own
report detailing their reasons for disagreeing with the
majority vote.
(3) If the committee votes to overrule the determination of the
Commission pursuant to paragraph (2), the Commission may publish and
make available to the general public a report detailing the reasons
that he concluded there were sufficient grounds to present such case to
the committee.
(4)(A) If the Commission determines there is probable cause that an
ethics violation has occurred and the Commission's determination is not
overruled, the Commission shall present the case and evidence to the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of
Representatives to hear and make a determination pursuant to its rules.
(B) The committee shall vote upon whether the individual who is the
subject of the investigation has violated any rules or other standards
of conduct applicable to that individual in his official capacity. Such
votes shall be a roll-call vote of the full committee, a quorum being
present. The committee shall issue a public report which shall include
the vote of each member of the committee on such roll-call vote.
Dissenting members may issue their own report detailing their own
reasons for disagreeing with the majority vote.
(d) Sanctions.--Whenever the Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct of the House of Representatives finds that an ethics violation
has occurred the Commission shall recommend appropriate sanctions to
the committee and whether a matter should be referred to the Department
of Justice for investigation.

SEC. 6. PROCEDURAL RULES.

(a) Majority Approval.--No report or recommendation relating to the
official conduct of a Member, officer, or employee of the House of
Representatives shall be made by the Commission, and no investigation
of such conduct shall be undertaken by the Commission, unless approved
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commission.
(b) Investigations.--Except in the case of an investigation
undertaken by the Commission on its own initiative, the Commission may
undertake an investigation relating to the official conduct of an
individual Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives
only--
(1) upon receipt of a complaint, in writing and under oath,
made by or submitted to a Member of the House of
Representatives and transmitted to the Commission by such
Member, or
(2) upon receipt of a complaint from the chairman of the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of
Representatives, in writing and under oath, made by that
committee.
(c) Prohibition of Certain Investigations.--No investigation shall
be undertaken by the Commission of any alleged violation of a law,
rule, regulation, or standard of conduct not in effect at the time of
the alleged violation.
(d) Disclosure.--No information or testimony received, or the
contents of a complaint or the fact of its filing, shall be publicly
disclosed by any member of the Commission or staff of the Commission
unless specifically authorized in each instance by a vote of the
Commission.

SEC. 7. STAFF OF COMMISSION.

The Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of such staff
as the Commission considers necessary to perform its duties. The
Commission shall be appointed jointly by the Speaker and minority
leader and shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay
payable for Level III of the Executive Schedule.

SEC. 8. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF THE HOUSE TO CHANGE THE DUTIES OF
THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

(a) House Rules Amendments.--Clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives is amended as follows:
(1) In paragraph (a), strike subparagraphs (1), (2), and
(3), and redesignate subparagraphs (4), (5), and (6), as
subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively.
(2)(A) Paragraph (b)(1) is amended by striking ''(A)'', by
striking ''a resolution, report, recommendation, or'' and
inserting ''an'', and by striking '', or, except as provided in
subparagraph (2), undertake an investigation'', and by striking
subdivision (B).
(B) Paragraph (b) is further amended by striking
subparagraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) and by redesignating
subparagraphs (6) and (7) as subparagraphs (2) and (3),
respectively.
(3) Strike paragraphs (j) (k), (l), (m), (n), (o), (p), and
(q).
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 803 of the Ethics Reform Act of
1989 (2 U.S.C. 29d) is amended by striking subsections (c) and (d).

SEC. 9. ACTION ON COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.

(a) Printing of Reports in Congressional Record.--Upon receipt by
the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of
Representatives of any report of the Commission, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives shall have the report printed in the
Congressional Record.
(b) House Consideration of Independent Ethics Commission
Recommendations.--Within 14 calendar days after a report referred to in
subsection (a) is printed in the Congressional Record, that portion of
the report recommending action by the House of Representatives
respecting any alleged violation, by a Member, officer, or employee of
the House of Representatives, of any law, rule, regulation, or other
standard of conduct applicable to the conduct of such Member, officer,
or employee in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his
responsibilities shall be introduced (by request) in the House by the
Speaker of the House, for himself and the minority leader of the House
in the form of a resolution. This resolution shall constitute a
question of privilege under rule IX of the Rules of the House of
Representatives. Any Member favoring the resolution may call it up as a
question of privilege but only on the third day after the calendar date
upon which such Member announces to the House his intention to do so.

SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act shall take effect upon the date of its enactment, except
that sections 3, 4, and 8 shall not take effect immediately prior to
noon January 3, 2009.
[A]: Independent Ethics Commission Act of 2007 - Establishes within the House of Representatives an Independent Ethics Commission composed only of former federal judges.

[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Taiwan Security Enhancement Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Since 1949, the close relationship between the United
States and Taiwan has been of enormous benefit to both
societies.
(2) In recent years, Taiwan has undergone a major political
transformation, and Taiwan is today a true multiparty democracy
with a political system separate from and totally unlike that
of the People's Republic of China.
(3) The economy of Taiwan is based upon free market
principles and is separate and distinct from the People's
Republic of China.
(4) Although on January 1, 1979, the United States
Government withdrew diplomatic recognition of the government on
Taiwan as the legitimate government of China, neither at that
time nor since has the United States Government adopted a
formal position as to the ultimate status of Taiwan other than
to state that status must be decided by peaceful means. Any
determination of the ultimate status of Taiwan must have the
express consent of the people on Taiwan.
(5) The government on Taiwan no longer claims to be the
sole legitimate government of all of China.
(6) The Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96-8) states
that--
(A) peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait area
are in the political, security, and economic interests
of the United States and are of international concern;
(B) the decision of the United States to establish
diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of
China rests upon the expectation that the future of
Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means;
(C) the United States would consider any effort to
determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful
means, including boycotts or embargoes, a threat to the
peace and security of the Western Pacific region and of
grave concern to the United States;
(D) the United States will maintain the capacity to
resist any form of coercion that jeopardizes the
security, or the social or the economic system, of the
people on Taiwan; and
(E) the preservation and enhancement of the human
rights of all the people on Taiwan are objectives of
the United States.
(7) On the basis of these provisions, the Taiwan Relations
Act establishes on the part of the United States a continuing
connection with and concern for Taiwan, its people, and their
ability to maintain themselves free of coercion and free of the
use of force against them. The maintenance by Taiwan of forces
adequate for defense and deterrence is in the interest of the
United States in that it helps to maintain peace in the Taiwan
Strait area.
(8) Since 1954, when the United States and Taiwan signed
the Mutual Defense Treaty, the United States and Taiwan have
maintained a defense and security relationship that has
contributed greatly to freedom, peace, and stability in Taiwan
and the East Asia and Pacific regions.
(9) The United States and Taiwan no longer conduct joint
training missions, have no direct military lines of
communication, and have only limited military-to-military
contacts. This lack of communication and interoperation between
the United States and Taiwan hinders planning for the defense
of Taiwan and could prove detrimental in the event of future
aggression against Taiwan.
(10) Since 1979, the United States has continued to sell
defensive weapons to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan
Relations Act, and such sales have helped Taiwan maintain its
autonomy and freedom in the face of persistent hostility from
the People's Republic of China. However, pressures to delay,
deny, and reduce arms sales to Taiwan have been prevalent
since the signing of the August 17, 1982, communique with the People's
Republic of China. Over time, such delays, denials, and reductions
could prevent Taiwan from maintaining a sufficient capability for self-
defense.
(11) As has been affirmed on several occasions by the
executive branch of Government, the provisions of the Taiwan
Relations Act take legal precedence over any communique with
the People's Republic of China.
(12) The People's Republic of China has consistently
refused to renounce the use of force against Taiwan and has
repeatedly threatened force against Taiwan, including implied
threats by unnamed People's Republic of China officials on
January 10, 1999, who warned Taiwan not to participate in the
development of theater missile defense capabilities with the
United States.
(13) The missile firings by the People's Republic of China
near Taiwan in August 1995 and March 1996 clearly demonstrate
the willingness of the People's Republic of China to use
forceful tactics to limit the freedom of the people on Taiwan.
(14) As most nations in East Asia reduce military spending,
the People's Republic of China continues a major and
comprehensive military buildup.
(15) This military buildup includes the development of
advanced ballistic and cruise missiles that will incorporate
precision guidance capability and the construction of new
imaging, radar, navigation, and electronic intelligence
satellites that will help target and guide ballistic and cruise
missiles. According to the Department of Defense report
entitled ''The Security Situation in the Taiwan Strait'',
submitted to Congress in February 1999, the size of the missile
force of the People's Republic of China is expected to grow
substantially and, by 2005, the People's Republic of China will
possess an ''overwhelming advantage'' in offensive missiles
vis-a-vis Taiwan. The Department of Defense has also noted that
the People's Republic of China may already possess the
capability to damage satellite optical sensors with lasers, is
researching advanced anti-satellite lasers that could blind
United States intelligence satellites, and is procuring radio
frequency weapons that disable electronic equipment. These
missile and anti-satellite capabilities pose a grave threat to
Taiwan.
(16) This military buildup also includes the construction
or procurement from abroad of advanced naval systems, including
Russian Kilo submarines that are difficult to detect, Russian
technology to assist the development of new nuclear-powered
attack submarines, Russian Sovremenny class destroyers armed
with supersonic SS-N-22 Sunburn anti-ship missiles, a new long-
range, all-weather naval attack aircraft called the JH-7, and
new indigenous land-attack cruise missiles that could be
launched from submarines, ships, and naval attack aircraft.
These naval capabilities pose a grave threat of blockade to
Taiwan.
(17) This military buildup also includes the improvement of
air combat capabilities by procuring and co-producing hundreds
of Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighters, seeking to purchase Russian
Su-30 all-weather attack aircraft, arming these aircraft with
advanced air-to-air missiles such as the Russian R-77 missile
and other precision guided munitions, constructing the
indigenously designed J-10 fighter, and seeking advanced
airborne warning and control systems from abroad. These
capabilities pose a grave airborne threat to Taiwan.
(18) Because of the introduction of advanced submarines
into the Taiwan Strait area by the People's Republic of China
and the increasing capability of the People's Republic of China
to blockade Taiwan, Taiwan needs to acquire diesel-powered
submarines in order to maintain a capability to counter a
blockade, to conduct antisubmarine warfare training, and for
other purposes.
(19) Because of the democratic form of government on Taiwan
and the historically nonaggressive foreign policy of Taiwan, it
is highly unlikely that Taiwan would use submarines in an
offensive manner.
(20) The current defense relationship between the United
States and Taiwan is deficient in terms of its capacity over
the long term to counter and deter potential aggression against
Taiwan by the People's Republic of China.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the
military departments should make every effort to reserve
additional positions for Taiwan officers at the National
Defense University, the senior war colleges, and the military
academies; and
(2) the Secretary of State should, when considering foreign
military sales to Taiwan--
(A) take into account the special status of Taiwan;
and
(B) make every effort to ensure that Taiwan has
full and timely access to price and availability data
for defense articles and defense services.

SEC. 4. DETERMINATIONS OF DEFENSE NEEDS OF TAIWAN.

(a) Increase in Technical Staff of the American Institute in
Taiwan.--Upon the request of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency,
the President shall use funds available to the Department of Defense
under the Arms Export Control Act for the assignment or detail of
additional technical staff to the American Institute in Taiwan.
(b) Annual Reports.--Beginning 60 days after the next round of arms
talks between the United States and Taiwan, and annually thereafter,
the President shall submit a report to Congress--
(1) detailing each of Taiwan's requests for purchase of
defense articles and defense services during the one-year
period ending on the date of the report;
(2) describing the defense needs asserted by Taiwan as
justification for those requests; and
(3) describing any decision to reject, postpone, or modify
any such request that was made during the one-year period
ending on the date of the report, the level at which the final
decision was made, and a justification for the decision.

SEC. 5. STRENGTHENING THE DEFENSE OF TAIWAN.

(a) Maintenance of Sufficient Self-Defense Capabilities of
Taiwan.--Congress finds that any determination of the nature or
quantity of defense articles or defense services to be made available
to Taiwan that is made on any basis other than the defense needs of
Taiwan, whether pursuant to the August 17, 1982, Communique signed with
the People's Republic of China, or any similar executive agreement,
order, or policy would violate the intent of Congress in the enactment
of section 3(b) of the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3302(b)).
(b) Plan.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation
with the Secretary of State, shall develop a plan for the
enhancement of programs and arrangements for operational
training and exchanges of personnel between the armed forces of
the United States and Taiwan for work in threat analysis,
doctrine, force planning, operational methods, and other areas.
The plan shall provide for exchanges of officers up to and
including general and flag officers in the grade of O-10.
(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a
report to Congress, in classified or unclassified form,
containing the plan required under paragraph (1).
(3) Implementation.--Not later than 30 days after the date
on which the report described in paragraph (2) is submitted or
required to be submitted, the Secretary of Defense shall
implement the plan contained in the report.
(c) Communications Between United States and Taiwan Military
Commands.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish secure direct
communications between the United States Pacific military command and
the Taiwan military command.
(d) Missile Defense Equipment.--Subject to subsection (h), the
President is authorized to make available for sale to Taiwan, at
reasonable cost, theater missile defense equipment and related items,
including--
(1) ground-based and naval-based missile defense systems;
and
(2) reconnaissance and communications systems, as may be
necessary to target and cue missile defense systems sold to
Taiwan.
(e) Satellite Early Warning Data.--Subject to subsection (h), the
President is authorized to make available for sale to Taiwan, at
reasonable cost, satellite early warning data.
(f) Air Defense Equipment.--Subject to subsection (h), the
President is authorized to make available for sale to Taiwan, at
reasonable cost, modern air-defense equipment, including the following:
(1) AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.
(2) Additional advanced fighters and airborne warning and
control systems (AWACS).
(3) Equipment to better defend airfields from air and
missile attack.
(4) Communications infrastructure that enables coordinated
joint-force air defense of Taiwan.
(g) Naval Defense Systems.--Subject to subsection (h), the
President is authorized to make available for sale to Taiwan, at
reasonable cost, defensive systems that counter the development by the
People's Republic of China of new naval capabilities, including defense
systems such as--
(1) diesel-powered submarines;
(2) anti-submarine systems, including airborne systems,
capable of detecting new Kilo and advanced Chinese nuclear
submarines;
(3) naval anti-missile systems, including Aegis destroyers,
capable of defeating Russian supersonic anti-ship missiles; and
(4) communications systems that better enable Taiwan to
conduct joint-force naval defense operations.
(h) Relation to Arms Export Control Act.--Nothing in this section
supersedes or modifies the application of section 36 of the Arms Export
Control Act to the sale of any defense article or defense service under
this section.
[A]:
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should, when considering foreign military sales to Taiwan, take into account Taiwan's special status and make every effort to ensure it has full and timely access to price and availability data for defense articles and defense services.
Directs the President, upon the request of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, to use Department of Defense funds for the assignment of additional technical staff to the American Institute in Taiwan.
Directs the President to report annually to Congress with respect to Taiwan's defense needs.
Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan for the enhancement of programs for operational training and exchanges of personnel between U.S. armed forces and Taiwanese armed forces for work in threat analysis, doctrine, force planning, operational methods, and other areas. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish secure direct communications between the U.S. Pacific military command and the Taiwan military command.
Authorizes the President, subject to the Arms Export Control Act, to make available for sale to Taiwan, at reasonable cost, theater missile defense equipment and related items, satellite early warning data, modern air-defense equipment, and naval defense systems.