Affirming the importance of the Taiwan Relations Act.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3470) to provide for the transfer of naval vessels to certain foreign countries, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to put any extraneous material on this measure into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I my consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3470. This legislation that I authored reaffirms the United States' steadfast support for Taiwan and provides the legal authority to sell naval vessels to Taiwan.

I very much appreciate the bipartisan support that we have received from Mr. Engel and other members of the committee across the aisle. This legislation passed unanimously out of our committee, and the bill makes several changes also to improve U.S. security assistance to friends and allies.

On April 10, 1979, the Taiwan Relations Act was enacted to govern America's relationship with the Republic of China-Taiwan. For 35 years, the act has helped maintain peace and security across the Taiwan Strait and the Asia-Pacific region.

During this time, Taiwan has undergone a monumental transformation from grinding poverty and from dictatorship to, today, a vibrant multiparty democracy. Taiwan's economy has evolved, too, to where it is today, out 10th top trading partner. This week, we recognize this 35- year transformation. Few other pieces of foreign policy legislation have been as consequential as the Taiwan Relations Act.

America's support for Taiwan has allowed this island nation to realize its full potential. It is now more important than ever that we reaffirm our strong commitment to Taiwan and to the Taiwan Relations Act. And as chairman, I led two bipartisan delegations to Taipei, to Kaohsiung, and to Tainan to examine Taiwan's economy and to look at its defense capabilities. Today's legislation is the product of the committee's bipartisan effort to prioritize the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. By incorporating two pieces of legislation, both which passed the committee unanimously, the House of Representatives is now in a position to fulfill both the spirit and the letter of the Taiwan Relations Act.

This legislation allows the President to transfer for sale four Perry-class guided missile frigates to Taiwan, which are greatly needed to augment Taiwan's defense capabilities. I have seen firsthand the World War II-era submarines and the 50-year-old fighter jets that form the core of Taiwan's military. Congress has made it clear to the administration that it wants more defense sales to Taiwan. These four ships would bolster Taiwan's defense to ensure that peace in the Taiwan Strait continues to benefit the entire region.

In addition to supporting Taiwan, this legislation also authorizes the transfer of excess decommissioned naval vessels to Thailand and Mexico. These transfers help support the priorities of the U.S. Navy while strengthening the capability of allies and other close partners to meet our shared maritime security objectives.

The bill also makes long overdue improvements to the timeliness of U.S. arms sales to friends and allies while maintaining appropriate congressional oversight. It also makes technical amendments to update certain notification and reporting requirements under the Arms Export Control Act. Finally, the bill also clarifies that certain business confidentiality protections of the Export Administration Act continue to protect information related to export licensing.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Congress of the United States,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, April 4, 2014.

Hon. Edward R. Royce,

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rayburn House Office

Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Royce: I am writing concerning H.R. 3470,

``Taiwan Relations Act Affirmation and Naval Vessel Transfer

Act of 2014,'' Title I of which was favorably reported out of

your Committee on March 25, 2014 as H. Res. 494.

As you know, H. Res. 494, which has been incorporated into

Section 101 of H.R. 3470, has been referred to the Committee

on Ways and Means. I appreciate that, in response to the

concerns raised by the Committee on Ways and Means concerning

aspects of Title I within our Committee's jurisdiction, you

have agreed to modify H.R. 3470 prior to its consideration in

the House. As a result, in order to expedite floor

consideration of the bill, the Committee on Ways and Means

will forgo action on H.R. 3470. Further, the Committee will

not oppose the bill's consideration on the suspension

calendar, based on our understanding that you will work with

us as the legislative process moves forward to ensure that

the Committee's concerns continue to be addressed. This is

also being done with the understanding that it does not in

any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the

appointment of conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives

on this or similar legislation.

I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming

this understanding with respect to H.R. 3470, and would ask

that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be

included in the Congressional Record during Floor

consideration.

Sincerely,

Dave Camp,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Holding), a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation. Just as important as arms sales to Taiwan, the U.S. must support efforts to maintain and expand Taiwan's diplomatic presence. I am pleased to report to the House that legislation signed into law last year, another bipartisan product of this committee, helped Taiwan participate in the International Civil Aviation Organization for the first time since 1976.

Taiwan's participation in regional trade agreements could greatly benefit American consumers and exporters as well.

Mr. Speaker, Congress should be proud of the role that the Taiwan Relations Act has had in helping Taiwan become what it is today. Taiwan is a beacon of hope and democracy in a part of the world that still yearns for the basic freedoms that Americans and Taiwanese enjoy on a daily basis. As we commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, let us speak with one voice and offer our strong support of Taiwan.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I thank my colleague, Mr. Royce, the distinguished chairman of our committee, once again for his bipartisan collegiality in the workings of our committee, especially on this important piece of legislation.

I want to also rise in strong support of the Taiwan Relations Act Affirmation and Naval Vessel Transfer Act.

I am proud to serve, Mr. Speaker, as the cochair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, which has worked to ensure the Taiwan Relations Act remains the linchpin in U.S.-Taiwan relations. I am also proud of the fact, I would say to my friend, the chairman of our committee, that, since 1988, I have actually been to Taiwan 23 times and have seen extraordinary change over those three decades.

Since the signing of the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, the U.S. and Taiwan have forged a closer partnership to improve cultural and economic relations between our nations. Our partnership has been instrumental in maintaining

peace and security across the Taiwan Strait and throughout East Asia.

While it is important to mark this historic anniversary, we also should take this opportunity to affirm our--that is to say the American--commitment. As a reflection of that, today's bill authorizes the President to transfer up to four surplus U.S. naval vessels to Taiwan. Taiwan has been a valued partner in combating global terrorism and delivering humanitarian relief when needed.

China's recent declaration of an Air Defense Identification Zone and subsequent provocation toward other ships in the region has raised concerns about the possibility of escalation and provocation. That makes the security posture of friends like Taiwan even more precarious and more important and underscores the need for us to continue this defense partnership.

The bill also, as the chairman indicated, authorizes the transfer of surplus naval vessels, two each to Mexico and Thailand, both critical defense partners of this Nation. These transfers will enhance the ability of those countries to collaborate with the U.S. Navy on joint or support operations. The bill also provides an overdue modernization of the congressional review process for the licensing of U.S. defense exports. Under the new criteria, congressional review will focus on major defense exports.

The bill also will help advance the President's Export Control Reform initiative, which has long been a priority for the high-tech community which I am proud to represent in northern Virginia. I have been working with the House Foreign Affairs Committee for years to reform Federal export controls, which have stifled innovation in the American commercial defense industry and put U.S. exports at a disadvantage.

Today's bill updates the process for congressional review of exports to reflect regulatory changes now being implemented by the Departments of State, Commerce, and Defense.

As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the adoption of the Taiwan Relations Act, I look forward to working with other friends of Taiwan to reaffirm America's unwavering commitment to this partnership, including trade and investment activities that will benefit both of our nations moving forward.

Over the past 60 years, the United States-Taiwan relationship has undergone dramatic changes, but Taiwan's development into a robust, lively democracy underpins the strong U.S.-Taiwan friendship we enjoy today. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join the chairman and me in supporting this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, let me first thank Chairman Royce for his steadfast leadership on the Foreign Affairs Committee on this legislation that we have before us today.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3470 strengthens the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Republic of China on Taiwan in two very important ways. First, it reaffirms Congress' commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act that for 35 years has served as the foundation of our relationship with the Republic of China on Taiwan. Secondly, Mr. Speaker, it authorizes the transfer of additional Perry-class guided missile frigates to Taiwan. And I should point out that I have seen firsthand in Taiwan the threat that the People's Republic of China constantly presents to Taiwan. They are there, right across a very short distance body of water, ready to strike at any time, so reaffirming our military commitment to Taiwan is critical.

As we have seen the Chinese Government continue to escalate tensions in the region, Mr. Speaker, making certain that we enhance this security cooperation is important. As Chairman Royce pointed out, Taiwan is a superior trading partner with the United States. They are in the top 10 trading partners, and I point out that the trade with Taiwan represents about 500,000 jobs here in the United States.

I would like to thank the chairman for his work to further the U.S.- Taiwan relationship, and certainly look forward to working with him to determine what else we can and should be doing to support an unwavering ally in an increasingly important part of the world.

My view of successful foreign policy is that your friends trust you and your enemies fear you, and this legislation today is a good step in the direction of our enemies fearing us and our friends trusting us.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House Resolution 494, a bill to reaffirm the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979.

I am proud to say I have long supported the Taiwan-American relationship, perhaps longer than most Members of Congress serving today. In fact, I cosponsored H. Res. 494 on March 13 of this year, exactly 35 years to the day after I voted in this chamber to support the original Taiwan Relations Act in 1979.

At that time, during the height of the Cold War, the United States was an essential ally and friend of Taiwan. Even as our nation sought to normalize relations with Mainland China, we were not about to abandon friends and allies, going back to the darkest days of World War