[House Hearing, 111 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT
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MARKUP
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ASIA, THE PACIFIC AND
THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
ON
H. Con. Res. 55
__________
MARCH 19, 2009
__________
Serial No. 111-6
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
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COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
HOWARD L. BERMAN, California, Chairman
GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey
Samoa DAN BURTON, Indiana
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey ELTON GALLEGLY, California
BRAD SHERMAN, California DANA ROHRABACHER, California
ROBERT WEXLER, Florida DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois
ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
BILL DELAHUNT, Massachusetts RON PAUL, Texas
GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York JEFF FLAKE, Arizona
DIANE E. WATSON, California MIKE PENCE, Indiana
RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri JOE WILSON, South Carolina
ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas
GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia J. GRESHAM BARRETT, South Carolina
MICHAEL E. McMAHON, New York CONNIE MACK, Florida
JOHN S. TANNER, Tennessee JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska
GENE GREEN, Texas MICHAEL T. McCAUL, Texas
LYNN WOOLSEY, California TED POE, Texas
SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Texas BOB INGLIS, South Carolina
BARBARA LEE, California GUS BILIRAKIS, Florida
SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada
JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York
MIKE ROSS, Arkansas
BRAD MILLER, North Carolina
DAVID SCOTT, Georgia
JIM COSTA, California
KEITH ELLISON, Minnesota
GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, Arizona
RON KLEIN, Florida
Richard J. Kessler, Staff Director
Yleem Poblete, Republican Staff Director
------
Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment
ENI F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa, Chairman
GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois
DIANE E. WATSON, California BOB INGLIS, South Carolina
MIKE ROSS, Arkansas DANA ROHRABACHER, California
BRAD SHERMAN, California EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York JEFF FLAKE, Arizona
GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York
Lisa Williams, Subcommittee Staff Director
David Richmond, Subcommittee Professional Staff Member
Nien Su, Republican Professional Staff Member
Vili Lei, Staff Associate
C O N T E N T S
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Page
MARKUP OF
H. Con. Res. 55, Recognizing the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan
Relations Act.................................................. 2
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H. Con. Res. 55..... 5
APPENDIX
Markup notice.................................................... 12
Markup minutes................................................... 13
The Honorable Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, a Representative in Congress
from American Samoa, and Chairman, Subcommittee on Asia, the
Pacific and the Global Environment: Prepared statement......... 14
The Honorable Donald A. Manzullo, a Representative in Congress
from the State of Illinois: Prepared statement................. 15
The Honorable Gary L. Ackerman, a Representative in Congress from
the State of New York: Prepared statement...................... 16
The Honorable Diane E. Watson, a Representative in Congress from
the State of California: Prepared statement.................... 17
RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT
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THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2009
House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific
and the Global Environment,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 1:04 p.m., in
room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Eni F.H.
Faleomavaega (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.
Mr. Faleomavaega. The meeting of the subcommittee will come
to order.
Pursuant to notice, I call up House Concurrent Resolution
55. Without objection, the amendment in the nature of a
substitute before the members will be considered as base text
for purposes of amendment, will be considered as read and will
be open for amendment at any point. I yield myself 5 minutes to
explain this bipartisan legislation.
[H. Con. Res. 55 and the Amendment in the Nature of a
Substitute follow:]
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Mr. Faleomavaega. This legislation recognizes the 30th
anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which was enacted in
1979 following the establishment of diplomatic relations
between the United States and the People's Republic of China.
And I commend my colleagues, Ms. Berkley of Nevada, Chairman
Berman, and Ranking Senior Member Ros-Lehtinen of our full
committee for their leadership and support of this historic
initiative.
Since 1979, the U.S. policy regarding Taiwan has remained
unchanged. The joint communiques, together with the Taiwan
Relations Act, are the foundation of our One-China Policy,
which implies, as President Reagan once said, ``The Taiwan
question is a matter for the Chinese people on both sides of
the Taiwan Strait to resolve.''
This is why the Taiwan Relations Act declares that its
intent is ``to preserve and promote extensive, close and
friendly commercial, cultural and other relations between the
people of United States and the people of Taiwan, as well as
the people on mainland China.'' And I believe this should
continue to be our primary focus.
As President Obama said, the United States is guided by
principles that demand greater cooperation and understanding
between nations. Hopefully, as we look to pass this
legislation, we will do so in the spirit inherent in our values
and respectful of the people on both sides of the Taiwan
Strait. I urge my colleagues to support this substitute.
Now I yield back to my good friend, the ranking member, to
explain his views on the proposed legislation.
Mr. Manzullo. Mr. Chairman, I support your amendment in the
nature of a substitute to H. Con. Res. 55. I urge my colleagues
to support it as well.
With your permission, is it okay if I yield my time to Mr.
Royce, who wanted to make a short statement on it?
Mr. Faleomavaega. Without objection, I gladly yield.
Mr. Royce. I thank the gentleman from Illinois. And thank
you, Mr. Chairman.
Taiwan is a beacon of democracy in Asia. We have a strong
partnership stretching back over half a century. Signed 30
years ago, the Taiwan Relations Act laid into law the basis for
the continued commercial, cultural and defense relationship
between the United States and Taiwan. As this resolution
states, it has been instrumental in maintaining peace, security
and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
While this resolution highlights many of the positive
attributes of the United Sates-Taiwan relationship, language
detailing our important economic relationship was regrettably
struck from the introduced text. As the original version
states, Taiwan is the ninth largest trading partner of the
United States, with U.S. exports totaling $26 billion. Imports
from Taiwan are important too.
The truth is that trade is very important to Taiwanese
security; security isn't based on weapons alone. It may be
wishful thinking with this administration and Congress, but I
would like to see movement on a free trade agreement with
Taiwan. Certainly, if we throw up trade barriers, it would do
much to destabilize Taiwan's economy. Let's not give trade
short shrift.
I yield back to the gentleman.
Mr. Manzullo. I would yield back my time to the chairman.
Mr. Faleomavaega. I thank the gentleman for his
statement.
The clerk will now report. deg.
Are there any amendments? I am sorry. I think because this
is on the basis of unanimous consent, that we have both agreed
on the substance of the proposed legislation, at this point
now, without objection, the amendment is considered as read
and--I think there are no amendments--the question occurs on
the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
All in favor, say yes or aye.
All opposed, say no.
The ayes carry and the resolution is carried. It will now
be reported favorably to the full committee.
Without objection, the committee markup is now adjourned.
Thank you.
[Whereupon, at 1:09 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
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Material Submitted for the Record
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