COVID-19 Accountability Act
This bill authorizes sanctions in relation to the Chinese government's response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak. It also increases the research tax credit and imposes requirements related to the acquisition of items for the Strategic National Stockpile.
The President shall periodically certify to Congress that the Chinese government (1) is cooperating with efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreak, (2) has prohibited wet markets, and (3) has released and dropped all charges for anyone involved in protests in Hong Kong related to COVID-19. If the President cannot make such a certification, the President may (1) impose sanctions on Chinese government officials, entities owned or controlled by the Chinese government, and individuals affiliated with such entities; or (2) prohibit Chinese nationals from obtaining student visas (i.e., F and M visas) or exchange visitor visas (i.e., J visas).
With respect to the research tax credit, the bill increases the alternative simplified credit from 14% to 20% of qualified research expenses above a certain threshold.
The Department of Health and Human Services generally may not purchase personal protective equipment, critical medical supplies, or certain fabric products not produced in the United States for the Strategic National Stockpile. However, this restriction shall not apply if (1) there is not a sufficient amount of U.S.-produced items available at U.S. market prices when needed, or (2) the purchase is worth less than $150,000.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6863 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6863
To authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to the People's
Republic of China for its obstruction or failure to cooperate in
investigations relating to the outbreak of COVID-19, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 14, 2020
Mr. Collins of Georgia (for himself, Ms. Cheney, Mr. Austin Scott of
Georgia, Mr. Steube, Mr. Guest, Mr. Timmons, Mr. Marshall, Mr.
Balderson, Mr. Walker, Mr. Riggleman, Mr. Palazzo, Mr. Tipton, Mr.
Gibbs, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr.
Allen, Mr. Waltz, Mrs. Hartzler, Mr. Banks, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Bishop
of North Carolina, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Mr. Stivers, and Mr.
Mullin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the
Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to the People's
Republic of China for its obstruction or failure to cooperate in
investigations relating to the outbreak of COVID-19, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``COVID-19
Accountability Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Statement of policy.
TITLE I--SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Sec. 101. Sanctions with respect to the obstruction or failure of the
People's Republic of China to cooperate in
investigations relating to the outbreak of
COVID-19.
TITLE II--ENSURING A SAFE AND SECURE SUPPLY OF PHARMACEUTICALS FOR THE
UNITED STATES
Sec. 201. Food and Drug Administration reporting requirements.
TITLE III--ENCOURAGING THE RETURN AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNITED STATES
INDUSTRY
Sec. 301. Increase in alternative simplified research credit.
Sec. 302. Special rules for certain United States manufacturers.
Sec. 303. Domestic purchasing requirement for personal protective
equipment acquisitions for the Strategic
National Stockpile.
TITLE IV--MATTERS RELATING TO TAIWAN
Sec. 401. Participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
Sec. 402. Briefing on United States strategy regarding Taiwan's
international recognition.
Sec. 403. Sense of Congress on the implementation of the Asia
Reassurance Initiative Act.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The People's Republic of China, including the
Government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese
Communist Party, has mishandled its management and response to
the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (commonly known as
``COVID-19'') in Wuhan, Hubei Province.
(2) On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization
headquarters in Geneva learned of pneumonia with an unknown
cause, not from Chinese authorities, but from a United States-
based listserv, Pro-MED, a platform for sharing early, open-
source intelligence about potential epidemics.
(3) On January 9, 2020, the Chinese Communist Party
officially announced a coronavirus outbreak, 2 days after the
World Health Organization announced an outbreak and 8 days
after closing the Wuhan Hua'nan wet market.
(4) The Chinese Communist Party continually suppressed
medical information, such as early knowledge of the risk of
human-to-human transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which
causes COVID-19, from doctors and medical professionals while
subjecting them to humiliating reprimands.
(5) On January 20, 2020, the Chinese Communist Party
finally acknowledged that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be
transmitted human to human, despite denials as recently as
January 15, 2020.
(6) On January 2, 2020, researchers in the People's
Republic of China completed a genomic analysis of the SARS-CoV-
2 virus, but failed to share the results with the international
community until January 12, 2020.
(7) On January 6, 2020, officials from the United States
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offered to visit the
People's Republic of China to help respond to the COVID-19
epidemic, but the offer was declined by the Chinese Communist
Party, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were
informed that United States medical researchers were not
permitted to enter the People's Republic of China until
February 16, 2020, as part of a World Health Organization
delegation.
(8) The Chinese Communist Party exponentially increased the
spread of COVID-19 domestically and internationally by
continuing to permit international flights well after domestic
quarantines were put in place.
(9) The Chinese Communist Party contributed to the
community spread of COVID-19 by, on January 18, 2020,
permitting a 40,000-family potluck banquet in the Bubuting
Community of Wuhan as part of the Lunar New Year festivities.
(10) On March 12, 2020, officials within the Chinese
Communist Party knowingly spread disinformation that the SARS-
CoV-2 virus had originated with the United States Armed Forces.
(11) COVID-19 has decimated the global economy, caused
trillions of dollars in economic damage, and cost millions of
United States citizens their jobs.
(12) As of the end of April 2020, COVID-19 has--
(A) infected more than 3,000,000 individuals
globally and almost 1,000,000 people in the United
States; and
(B) caused more than 200,000 deaths globally and
more than 50,000 deaths in the United States.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to fully investigate the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2
virus, including the role the Government of the People's
Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party played in
withholding information and knowingly misinforming
international organizations and countries impacted by COVID-19;
(2) to ensure that the Government of the People's Republic
of China immediately closes all operating wet markets that have
a potential to expose humans to health risks through the
introduction of zoonotic disease into the human population;
(3) to draw international attention to--
(A) any violations by the Government of the
People's Republic of China of the fundamental rights of
the people of Hong Kong, as provided by the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
and
(B) any encroachment on the autonomy guaranteed to
Hong Kong by the Basic Law of Hong Kong and the Joint
Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government
of the People's Republic of China on the Question of
Hong Kong, done at Beijing on December 19, 1984; and
(4) to reduce the reliance of essential United States
industries on the People's Republic of China to fulfill supply
chain needs.
TITLE I--SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
SEC. 101. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE OBSTRUCTION OR FAILURE OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO COOPERATE IN INVESTIGATIONS
RELATING TO THE OUTBREAK OF COVID-19.
(a) Certification Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the
President shall submit to Congress--
(1) a certification that the Government of the People's
Republic of China--
(A) is completely cooperating with any efforts
relating to the COVID-19 outbreak led by the United
States, partners of the United States, or any
institution affiliated with the United Nations;
(B) has prohibited the operation of wet markets
that have a potential to expose humans to health risks
through the introduction of zoonotic disease into the
human population; and
(C) has released and dropped all charges for anyone
arrested or detained in the People's Republic of China
since November 2019 relating to their participation in
the protests in Hong Kong relating to COVID-19; or
(2) a report describing the reasons the President is not
able to make the certification described in paragraph (1).
(b) Imposition of Sanctions and Prohibitions.--If the President is
unable to make a certification described in paragraph (1) of subsection
(a) by a date required by that subsection, the President may impose 2
or more of--
(1) the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect
to--
(A) any official of the Government of the People's
Republic of China;
(B) any entity owned, directed, or otherwise
controlled by that Government; and
(C) any individual associated with an entity
described in paragraph (2); or
(2) the prohibition described in subsection (d).
(c) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions that may be imposed with
respect to an official, entity, or individual under this subsection are
the following:
(1) Property blocking.--The President may, pursuant to the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et
seq.), block and prohibit all transactions in property and
interests in property of such an official, entity, or
individual (and, in the case of an official or other
individual, the immediate family members of the official or
individual) if such property and interests in property are in
the United States, come within the United States, or are or
come within the possession or control of a United States
person.
(2) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or parole.--
(A) Visas, admission, or parole.--Notwithstanding
section 221 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1201), the Secretary of State may deny a visa
to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security may deny
admission or parole into the United States for, such an
official or individual who is an alien.
(B) Current visas revoked.--
(i) In general.--Pursuant to section 221(i)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1201(i)), the issuing consular officer,
the Secretary of State, or the Secretary of
Homeland Security (or a designee of any such
officer or Secretary) may revoke any visa or
other entry documentation issued to an alien
described in subparagraph (A), regardless of
when the visa or other documentation was
issued.
(ii) Effect of revocation.--A revocation
under clause (i) may take effect immediately
and shall automatically cancel any other valid
visa or entry documentation that is in the
alien's possession.
(3) Loans from united states financial institutions.--The
President may prohibit any United States financial institution
from making loans, underwriting, or providing credits to any
such entity unless the entity is determined by the United
States Government to be engaged in activities to relieve human
suffering and the loans or credits have been approved by the
United States Government for such activities.
(4) Loans from and procurement by international financial
institutions.--The President shall direct the United States
executive director of each international financial institution
(as defined in section 1701(c) of the International Financial
Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262r(c))) to use the voice and vote
of the United States to oppose--
(A) any financial assistance from the international
financial institution that would benefit any such
entity; and
(B) the awarding by the international financial
institution of procurement contracts to any such
entity.
(5) Limitation on chinese ownership interests in united
states issuers of securities.--
(A) In general.--The Securities and Exchange
Commission may prohibit a covered entity from listing
securities issued by the entity on a national
securities exchange if an entity or individual subject
to subsection (b) has a majority ownership interest in
the covered entity.
(B) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
(i) Covered entity.--The term ``covered
entity'' means an entity--
(I) that is incorporated under the
laws of any State, or whose principal
place of business is within a State;
and
(II) that produces components that
may be used in--
(aa) services supplied by
an entity subject to subsection
(b); or
(bb) goods produced, or
exported, by an entity subject
to subsection (b).
(ii) Exchange; security.--The terms
``exchange'' and ``security'' have the meanings
given those terms in section 3(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
78c(a)).
(iii) Majority ownership interest.--An
entity or individual holds a ``majority
ownership interest'' in a covered entity if the
entity or individual owns--
(I) more shares in the covered
entity than any other shareholder; and
(II) enough shares in the covered
entity to control decisions of the
entity.
(iv) National securities exchange.--The
term ``national securities exchange'' means an
exchange that is registered as a national
securities exchange under section 6 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
78f).
(d) Prohibition Against Student Visas for Chinese Nationals.--The
Secretary of State may deny an alien who is a citizen or national of
the People's Republic of China admission, parole, or other permission
to enter the United States as a nonimmigrant described in subparagraph
(F), (J), or (M) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)).
(e) Application; Exceptions.--
(1) Inapplicability of national emergency requirement.--The
requirements under section 202 of the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply for
purposes of subsection (c)(1).
(2) Exception for intelligence activities.--Sanctions under
this section shall not apply to any activity subject to the
reporting requirements under title V of the National Security
Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.) or any authorized
intelligence activities of the United States.
(3) Exception relating to importation of goods.--
(A) In general.--The authorities and requirements
to impose sanctions under subsection (c)(1) shall not
include the authority or a requirement to impose
sanctions on the importation of goods.
(B) Good defined.--In this paragraph, the term
``good'' means any article, natural or manmade
substance, material, supply or manufactured product,
including inspection and test equipment, and excluding
technical data.
(4) Exception to comply with international obligations and
for law enforcement activities.--Sanctions under subsection
(c)(2) and the prohibition under subsection (d) shall not apply
with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling the alien
into the United States is necessary--
(A) to permit the United States to comply with the
Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United
Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and
entered into force November 21, 1947, between the
United Nations and the United States, or other
applicable international obligations; or
(B) to carry out or assist law enforcement activity
in the United States.
(f) Implementation; Penalties.--
(1) Implementation.--The President may exercise all
authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and
1704) to carry out this section.
(2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to
violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this
section or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry
out this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in
subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same
extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in
subsection (a) of that section.
(g) Suspension; Reinstatement.--
(1) In general.--The authority to impose sanctions or
prohibitions under this section, and any sanctions or
prohibitions so imposed, shall be suspended on the date on
which the President submits to Congress a certification
described in subsection (a)(1).
(2) Effect of subsequent failure to certify.--If, after a
suspension of sanctions and prohibitions under paragraph (1),
the President is unable to submit a certification described in
paragraph (1) of subsection (a) at a time required by that
subsection, the authority to impose sanctions and prohibitions
under this section, and any sanctions or prohibitions
previously imposed under this section, shall be reinstated.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Admission; admitted; alien.--The terms ``admission'',
``admitted'', and ``alien'' have the meanings given those terms
in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1101).
(2) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence to the United States;
or
(B) an entity organized under the laws of the
United States or any jurisdiction within the United
States, including a foreign branch of such an entity.
TITLE II--ENSURING A SAFE AND SECURE SUPPLY OF PHARMACEUTICALS FOR THE
UNITED STATES
SEC. 201. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of
Food and Drugs shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees--
(1) a list of all brand name and generic drugs and
corresponding active pharmaceutical ingredients that the
Commissioner determines are--
(A) critical to the health and safety of United
States consumers; and
(B) are exclusively produced, or incorporate active
pharmaceutical ingredients produced, in the People's
Republic of China;
(2)(A) a certification that the pharmaceutical industry in
the People's Republic of China is being regulated for safety,
either by authorities of the Government of the People's
Republic of China or by the Food and Drug Administration, to
substantially the same degree as the United States
pharmaceutical industry; or
(B) if the Commissioner is unable to make a certification
described in subparagraph (A), a plan to protect the people of
the United States from unsafe or contaminated drugs
manufactured in the People's Republic of China; and
(3) a report on imports from the People's Republic of China
of all personal protective equipment that is intended for use
as a medical device, including--
(A) information on the percentage of demand in the
United States for such equipment that is met by such
imports; and
(B) an analysis of the percentage of such imports
that meet the standards of the Commissioner for use in
the United States.
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
TITLE III--ENCOURAGING THE RETURN AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNITED STATES
INDUSTRY
SEC. 301. INCREASE IN ALTERNATIVE SIMPLIFIED RESEARCH CREDIT.
(a) In General.--Subparagraph (A) of section 41(c)(4) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``14 percent'' and
inserting ``20 percent''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Clause (ii) of section 41(c)(4)(B) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``6 percent''
and inserting ``10 percent''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.
SEC. 302. SPECIAL RULES FOR CERTAIN UNITED STATES MANUFACTURERS.
(a) Increase in Research Credit.--Section 41(c)(4) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) Special rules for qualified manufacturers.--
``(i) In general.--In the case of a
taxpayer who meets the requirements of clause
(ii) for the taxable year--
``(I) subparagraph (A) shall be
applied by substituting `30 percent'
for `20 percent', and
``(II) subparagraph (B)(ii) shall
be applied by substituting `14 percent'
for `10 percent'.
``(ii) Requirements.--
``(I) In general.--A taxpayer meets
the requirements of this clause if not
less than 50 percent of the gross
receipts for applicable products sold
by the taxpayer during the taxable year
are produced or manufactured in whole
or in significant part within the
United States.
``(II) Applicable products.--For
purposes of this clause, the term
`applicable product' means any product
with respect to which a credit was
allowed under this section to the
taxpayer in a preceding taxable
year.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.
SEC. 303. DOMESTIC PURCHASING REQUIREMENT FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT ACQUISITIONS FOR THE STRATEGIC NATIONAL
STOCKPILE.
(a) Requirement.--Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d),
funds appropriated or otherwise available to the Secretary of Health
and Human Services for the Strategic National Stockpile may not be used
for the procurement of an item described in subsection (b) if the item
is not grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States.
(b) Covered Items.--An item described in this subsection is an
article or item of--
(1) personal protective equipment or clothing and the
materials and components thereof, other than sensors,
electronics, or other items added to, and not normally
associated with, clothing (and the materials and components
thereof);
(2) surgical masks, respirator masks, face shields,
surgical and privacy gowns, head and foot coverings, testing
swabs, bedding, or other critical medical supplies;
(3) cotton and other natural fiber products, woven silk or
woven silk blends, spun silk yarn for cartridge cloth,
synthetic fabric or coated synthetic fabric (including all
textile fibers and yarns that are for use in such fabrics),
canvas products, or wool (whether in the form of fiber or yarn
or contained in fabrics, materials, or manufactured articles);
or
(4) any item of individual equipment manufactured from or
containing such fibers, yarns, fabrics, or materials.
(c) Availability Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to the
extent that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that
a sufficient quantity of a satisfactory quality of any such article or
item described in subsection (b) that is grown, reprocessed, reused, or
produced in the United States cannot be procured as, and when, needed
at United States market prices. This section shall not apply to covered
items that are, or include, materials determined to be nonavailable in
accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 25.104 Nonavailable
Articles.
(d) Exception for Small Purchases.--Subsection (a) shall not apply
to purchases for amounts that do not exceed $150,000. A proposed
purchase or contract for an amount in excess of $150,000 may not be
divided into several purchases or contracts for lesser amounts in order
to qualify for the exception under this subsection.
(e) Geographic Coverage.--In this section, the term ``United
States'' includes the possessions of the United States.
(f) Notification Required Within 7 Days After Contract Award if
Certain Exceptions Applied.--In the case of any contract for the
procurement of an item described in subsection (b), if the Secretary of
Health and Human Services applies the exception described in subsection
(c) with respect to that contract, the Secretary shall, not later than
7 days after the awarding of the contract, post a notification that the
exception has been applied on the internet website maintained by the
General Services Administration known as FedBizOps.gov (or any
successor site).
(g) Training During Fiscal Year 2021.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall ensure that each member of the acquisition workforce in
the Department of Health and Human Services who participates
personally and substantially in acquisitions on a regular basis
receives training during fiscal year 2021 on the requirements
of this section and the regulations implementing this section.
(2) Inclusion of information in new training programs.--The
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall ensure that any
training program for the acquisition workforce developed or
implemented after fiscal year 2021, includes comprehensive
information on the requirements described in paragraph (1).
(h) Application to Other Agencies.--If responsibility for
maintaining the Strategic National Stockpile is transferred from the
Department of Health and Human Services to any other Federal department
or agency, the provisions of this section shall apply to the head of
such department or agency.
(i) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to
contracts entered into by the Department of Health and Human Services
beginning 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
TITLE IV--MATTERS RELATING TO TAIWAN
SEC. 401. PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized
agency of the United Nations, charged with coordinating health
efforts within the United Nations system. The World Health
Assembly (WHA) is the decision-making body of the WHO, which
convenes annually in May to set the policies and priorities of
the organization. Statehood is not a requirement for attendance
at the WHA, and numerous observers, including nonmembers and
nongovernmental organizations, attended the most recent WHA in
May 2018.
(2) Taiwan began seeking to participate in the WHO as an
observer in 1997. In 2009, with strong support from successive
United States Administrations, Congress, and like-minded WHO
Member States, and during a period of improved Cross-Strait
relations, Taiwan received an invitation to attend the WHA as
an observer under the name ``Chinese Taipei''. Taiwan received
the same invitation each year until 2016, when following the
election of President Tsai-Ing Wen of the Democratic
Progressive Party, Taiwan's engagement in the international
community began facing increased resistance from the People's
Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan's invitation to the 2016 WHA
was received late and included new language conditioning
Taiwan's participation on the PRC's ``one China principle''. In
2017 and 2018, Taiwan did not receive an invitation to the WHA.
(3) Taiwan remains a model contributor to world health,
having provided financial and technical assistance to respond
to numerous global health challenges. Taiwan has invested over
$6,000,000,000 in international medical and humanitarian aid
efforts impacting over 80 countries since 1996. In 2014, Taiwan
responded to the Ebola crisis by donating $1,000,000 and
providing 100,000 sets of personal protective equipment.
Through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, the
United States and Taiwan have jointly conducted training
programs for experts to combat MERS, Dengue Fever, and Zika.
These diseases know no borders, and Taiwan's needless exclusion
from global health cooperation increases the dangers presented
by global pandemics.
(4) Taiwan's international engagement has faced increased
resistance from the PRC. Taiwan was not invited to the 2016
Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO), despite participating as a guest at the organization's
prior summit in 2013. Taiwan's requests to participate in the
General Assembly of the International Criminal Police
Organization (INTERPOL) have also been rejected. In May 2017,
PRC delegates disrupted a meeting of the Kimberley Process on
conflict diamonds held in Perth, Australia, until delegates
from Taiwan were asked to leave. Since 2016, the Democratic
Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, the Republic of Panama, the
Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, the Republic of El Salvador,
the Solomon Islands, and Kiribati have terminated longstanding
diplomatic relationships with Taiwan and granted diplomatic
recognition to the PRC.
(5) Congress has established a policy of support for
Taiwan's participation in international bodies that address
shared transnational challenges, particularly in the WHO.
Congress passed H.R. 1794 in the 106th Congress, H.R. 428 in
the 107th Congress, and S. 2092 in the 108th Congress to direct
the Secretary of State to establish a strategy for, and to
report annually to Congress on, efforts to obtain observer
status for Taiwan at the WHA. Congress also passed H.R. 1151 in
the 113th Congress, directing the Secretary to report on a
strategy to gain observer status for Taiwan at the ICAO
Assembly, and H.R. 1853 in the 114th Congress, directing the
Secretary to report on a strategy to gain observer status for
Taiwan at the INTERPOL Assembly. However, since 2017 Taiwan has
not received an invitation to attend any of these events as an
observer.
(b) Augmentation of Report Concerning the Participation of Taiwan
in the World Health Organization.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law
108-235 (118 Stat. 656) is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
``(3) An account of the changes and improvements the
Secretary of State has made to the United States plan to
endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the World
Health Assembly, following any annual meetings of the World
Health Assembly at which Taiwan did not obtain observer
status.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect and apply beginning with the first report
required under subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law 108-
235 that is submitted after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 402. BRIEFING ON UNITED STATES STRATEGY REGARDING TAIWAN'S
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for 3 years, the
Secretary of State shall provide to the appropriate congressional
committees a briefing on actions taken by the United States to reaffirm
and strengthen Taiwan's official and unofficial diplomatic
relationships.
(b) Elements.--The briefing required by subsection (a) shall
include the following elements:
(1) A description of the actions taken by the United States
commencing May 20, 2016, to consult with governments around the
world, including the governments that maintain official
diplomatic relations with Taiwan, with the purpose of inducing
those governments to maintain official diplomatic relations
with Taiwan or otherwise strengthen unofficial relations with
Taiwan.
(2) An enumeration of specific countries of concern, if
any, and a description of the actions taken, or actions
anticipated, by those governments, commencing May 20, 2016, to
alter the formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan or to otherwise
downgrade official or unofficial relations.
(3) A plan of action to engage with the governments of the
countries identified in paragraphs (1) and (2) and increase
cooperation with respect to Taiwan.
(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 403. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASIA
REASSURANCE INITIATIVE ACT.
It is the sense of Congress that the full and timely implementation
of section 209 of the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (Public
Law 115-409; 132 Stat. 5387), which reiterates longstanding bipartisan
United States policy, is critical to demonstrate United States support
for Taiwan.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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