Congressman Sherrod Brown's (D-OH) Press Release after
passage 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.