(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
(Sec. 1) This bill directs the President to: (1) develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and at other related activities, and (2) instruct INTERPOL Washington to request observer status for Taiwan in INTERPOL and urge INTERPOL members to support Taiwan's observer status and participation.
The President shall report to Congress regarding the U.S. strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan in INTERPOL and at other related meetings, activities, and mechanisms.
[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1853 Introduced in House (IH)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1853
To direct the President to develop a strategy to obtain observer status
for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 16, 2015
Mr. Salmon (for himself, Mr. Royce, Mr. Engel, and Mr. Sherman)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the President to develop a strategy to obtain observer status
for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization, 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. PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE
ORGANIZATION.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Safety, security and peace is important to every
citizen of the world, and shared information ensuring wide
assistance among police authorities of nations for expeditious
dissemination of information regarding criminal activities
greatly assists in these efforts.
(2) Direct and unobstructed participation in the
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is
beneficial for all nations and their police authorities.
Internationally shared information with authorized police
authorities is vital to peacekeeping efforts.
(3) With a history dating back to 1914, the role of
INTERPOL is defined in its constitution: ``To ensure and
promote the widest possible mutual assistance between all
criminal police authorities within the limits of the laws
existing in the different countries and in the spirit of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.''.
(4) Ongoing international threats, including international
networks of terrorism, show the ongoing necessity to be ever
inclusive of nations willing to work together to combat
criminal activity. The ability of police authorities to
coordinate, preempt, and act swiftly and in unison is an
essential element of crisis prevention and response.
(5) Taiwan maintained full membership in INTERPOL starting
in 1964 through its National Police Administration but was
ejected in 1984 when the People's Republic of China (PRC)
applied for membership.
(6) Nonmembership prevents Taiwan from gaining access to
INTERPOL's I-24/7 global police communications system, which
provides real-time information on criminals and global criminal
activities. Taiwan is relegated to second-hand information from
friendly nations, including the United States.
(7) Taiwan is unable to swiftly share information on
criminals and suspicious activity with the international
community, leaving a huge void in the global crime-fighting
efforts and leaving the entire world at risk.
(8) The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review,
declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in
appropriate international organizations and has consistently
reiterated that support.
(9) Following the enactment of Public Law 108-235, a law
authorizing the Secretary of State to initiate and implement a
plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the
annual summit of the World Health Assembly and subsequent
advocacy by the United States, Taiwan was granted observer
status to the World Health Assembly for six consecutive years
since 2009. Both prior to and in its capacity as an observer,
Taiwan has contributed significantly to the international
community's collective efforts in pandemic control, monitoring,
early warning, and other related matters.
(10) INTERPOL's constitution allows for observers at its
meetings by ``police bodies which are not members of the
Organization''.
(b) Taiwan's Participation in INTERPOL.--The President shall--
(1) develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan
in INTERPOL and at other related meetings, activities, and
mechanisms thereafter; and
(2) instruct INTERPOL Washington to officially request
observer status for Taiwan in INTERPOL and to actively urge
INTERPOL member states to support such observer status and
participation for Taiwan.
(c) Report Concerning Observer Status for Taiwan in INTERPOL.--Not
later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
President shall transmit to Congress a report, in unclassified form,
describing the United States strategy to endorse and obtain observer
status for Taiwan in INTERPOL and at other related meetings,
activities, and mechanisms thereafter. The report shall include the
following:
(1) A description of the efforts the President has made to
encourage INTERPOL member states to promote Taiwan's bid to
obtain observer status in INTERPOL.
(2) A description of the actions the President will take to
endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan in INTERPOL and
at other related meetings, activities, and mechanisms
thereafter.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7363-7367)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1853.
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
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Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7372)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 392 - 0 (Roll no. 582).(text: CR H7364)
Roll Call #582 (House)On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 392 - 0 (Roll no. 582). (text: CR H7364)
Roll Call #582 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.