For immediate release                                                   February 13, 2004                                                  

11 SENATORS INTRODUCE BILL URGING U.S. TO TAKE

LEAD SUPPORTING TAIWAN AT GENEVA WHO SUMMIT

On February 12, 11 Senators, led by Senate Taiwan Caucus chair Senator George Allen, introduced S2092 authorizing the Secretary of State "to introduce a resolution on the floor of the world Health Assembly, before the assembled delegates, in support of Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization with observer status."

Introducers are: Senators George Allen, James Inhofe, Tim Johnson, Jon Kyl, Joe Lieberman, Trent Lott, Richard Durbin, George Voinovich, Susan Collins, Mike Crapo and Kit Bond.

The bill is the Senate version of the legislation that was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this week on February 11.

In an accompanying press release, Senator Allen states: "It would be tantamount to medical malpractice to continue to exclude Taiwan from participation in the assessment, treatment and cure of SARS and other dangerous diseases in the world" said Senator Allen." 

FAPA President Wu Ming-chi, Ph.D. says: "It is good to note that this year's Senate WHO resolution has the largest amount of original co-sponsors ever since the Senate started introducing WHO legislation in 1999. Not only Senate Taiwan Caucus members are listed as co-sponsors, but also Senators that are not in the Caucus. This reflects the support that exists in the Senate for Taiwan's involvement in the WHO."

Wu continues: "Next to the letter that the House Taiwan Caucus sent out last month asking that the WHO set up a semi-permanent office in Taipei, this initiative to have the U.S. introduce a resolution in support of Taiwan's participation in the WHO illustrates how the U.S. Congress is seeking creative ways to bring the 23 million people of Taiwan into the organization."

【FAPA 新聞稿】                                      【2004年2月13日】       Contact: Iris Ho at 202-547-3686

 11位參議員聯合引進支持台灣世衛大會觀察員法案

繼眾議院台灣連線共同主席們於10日聯合引進第3793號法案(HR3793)，呼籲國務卿鮑威爾提出並實施協助台灣成為世衛觀察員一計劃後，參議院也在昨日(12日)，由參議院台灣連線共同主席艾倫(George Allen, R-VA)領銜引進參議院第2092 (S.2092)號法案，其內容與眾議院版本雷同。法案內容也同樣建議國務院在今年五月的世衛大會上，由美國代表團（而非以往台灣友邦）引進支持台灣世衛觀察員身份的決議案。

相當難得的是參議院的法案在昨日引進時共有包括艾倫等11位參議員聯合引進。11位議員中並包括另一參議院台灣連線共同主席強森(Tim Johnson, D-SD)，與日前才退出角逐爭取民主黨提名的總統候選人李柏曼(Joe Lieberman, D-CT)參議員。這11位參議員為：Senators George Allen (R-VA), James Inhofe (R-OK), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Trent Lott (R-MS), Richard Durbin (D-IL), George Voinovich (R-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Kit Bond (R-MO)。

艾倫參議員在其新聞稿裡表示：「將台灣排除在世界醫療體系外，阻絕他們參與如SARS等各種危險疾病的評估、治療與防治工作，這樣的作法如同是草菅人命。」

FAPA會長吳明基表示：「自1999年參議院每年引進WHO議案以來，今年是有史以來原始提案人(original cosponsors)人數最多的一年。數位非參議院台灣連線成員的參議員也一併加入今年的聯署行列，證明了參議院對於台灣參與世衛的廣泛支持。」

吳明基接著表示：「眾議院台灣連線主席們在上個月才剛剛致函WHO秘書長，敦促他們在台北設立一常設性代表處。參眾兩院接著在這兩天以法案的方式，聯合籲請國務院在今年的世衛大會上引進決議案，公開支持台灣成為世衛大會觀察員。這幾項舉動展現出美國國會以創新的思維，積極協助台灣人民進入世衛組織。」