H.R. 1853House114th Congress (2015-2017)Passed House

To direct the President to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization, and for other purposes.

Introduced April 16, 2015

Legislative Activity

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15 earlier actions
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

November 3, 2015

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 16, 2015

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

April 16, 2015

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

May 13, 2015

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

May 20, 2015

HouseCommittee

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

May 20, 2015

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

May 21, 2015

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.

May 21, 2015

HouseFloor

Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

November 2, 2015 • 5:16 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7363-7367)

November 2, 2015 • 5:16 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1853.

November 2, 2015 • 5:16 PM

HouseFloor

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.

November 2, 2015 • 5:44 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7372)

November 2, 2015 • 6:31 PM

HouseFloor

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)

November 2, 2015 • 6:57 PM

HouseFloor

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)

November 2, 2015 • 6:57 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

November 2, 2015 • 6:57 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

November 3, 2015

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued November 3, 2015

IIB

114th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1853

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 3, 2015

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

AN ACT

To direct the President to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization, and for other purposes.

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.

Passed the House of Representatives November 2, 2015.

Karen L. Haas,

Clerk