1) Congressman Sherrod Brown's (D-OH) Press Release After Mark-Up of WHO for Taiwan Bill (HR1794) in House International Relations Committee

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 1999

 BROWN LEADS COMMITTEE PASSAGE
 OF BILL ON TAIWAN's PARTICIPATION
 IN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Washington, DC – The International Relations Committee today approved a bill, introduced by U.S. Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH), requiring the Clinton administration to report to Congress on its efforts to back Taiwan's entry into the World Health Organization (WHO).

Brown, an Asia and Pacific panel member and the top Democrat on the Commerce Health and Environment Subcommittee, said his bill compels the U.S. to abide by its 1994 Taiwan Policy Review to more actively support Taiwan's participation in the WHO and other international organizations. Last fall, Brown's resolution urging Taiwan's membership in the WHO passed unanimously. The Senate approved a similar resolution in April.

"I'm very pleased we've secured quick, bipartisan action on this important measure. Taiwan deserves WHO membership. The question is whether the U.S. supports improving health care for children, the elderly, and the most vulnerable in Taiwan. I strongly believe our nation should support this. For too long, Taiwan's 21 million citizens have been denied access to the WHO and its medical expertise. It's long past time we change this," Brown said.

"Last year, more than 70 Taiwanese children died due to an outbreak of enterovirus. If Taiwan was able to obtain WHO assistance, some of those lives could have been saved. Not one child in Taiwan should suffer because their physicians aren't able to access WHO medical protocols," he added.

Brown has spearheaded the drive in the House to win official U.S. support for Taiwan's entry in the WHO. Taiwan was last a WHO members in 1972, and needs a majority vote of all members for readmission. Brown has been a forceful advocate in Congress for Taiwan's sovereignty and for its participation in the WHO, and is considered a leader in Congress on promoting access to quality, affordable health care.
 

2) Summary of Statements from House International Relations Committee Mark-Up Hearing of WHO for Taiwan Bill(HR1794) on July 1, 1999

Both Rep. Eni Faleomavaega, D-AS, Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-NY, and Rep. Steve Chabot, R-OH, who was also an original cosponsor, expressed full support of the bill by pointing out the universal right to proper health care.

Rep. Doug Bereuter, R-NE

"Given the fact that international travel makes transmission of communicable diseases much more prevalent, it is illogical to deny WHO services to Taiwan's population of more than 20 million people.  In addition, there is no doubt how much that Taiwan can offer in terms of medical and pharmaceutical expertise.  Their longevity rate is about the highest in Asia for example.  Taiwan has good expertise in certain areas a number of ailments where we in the West lack expertise.  The chance for cooperation I think is obvious."

"The resolution offered by our colleague from Ohio specifically states that Taiwan and its people should have "appropriate and meaningful participation in the World Health Organization," solving the difficulties that we have on the sovereignty issue with the WHO."

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-CA

"I know, personally, of numerous charitable contributions through the Su-Chi Foundation of Taiwan and also directly from the people and also the government in Taiwan, that have been made throughout this planet; things that no one else knows about.  I mean, in Afghanistan, they put in millions of dollars worth of medicine.  In Macedonia, where here they are separated on the other side of the world from this military operation, they've kicked in millions of dollars there.  They've taken care of refugees and health care projects in places where nobody else has heard of."

"Here they're willing to make such great contributions to the health of the world and yet there's some problem with them becoming a member of the World Health Organization."

Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-OH

I'm very pleased we've secured quick, bipartisan action on this important measure. Taiwan deserves WHO membership. The question is whether the U.S. supports improving health care for children, the elderly, and the most vulnerable in Taiwan. I strongly believe our nation should support this. For too long, Taiwan's 21 million citizens have been denied access to the WHO and its medical expertise. It's long past time we change this."

"Last year, more than 70 Taiwanese children died due to an outbreak of enterovirus. If Taiwan was able to obtain WHO assistance, some of those lives could have been saved. Not one child in Taiwan should suffer because their physicians aren't able to access WHO medical protocols."