| HRES 3707EH 106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 3707
To authorize funds for the site selection and construction
of a facility in Taipei, Taiwan suitable for the mission of the American Institute in
Taiwan.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 29, 2000
Mr. BEREUTER introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on International Relations
A BILL
To authorize funds for the site selection and construction
of a facility in Taipei, Taiwan suitable for the mission of the American Institute in
Taiwan.
Be
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This
Act may be cited as the `American Institute in Taiwan Facilities Enhancement Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The
Congress finds that--
(1)
in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), the
Congress established the American Institute in Taiwan (hereafter in this Act referred to
as `AIT'), a nonprofit corporation incorporated in the District of Columbia, to carry out
on behalf of the United States Government any and all programs, transactions, and other
relations with Taiwan;
(2)
the Congress has recognized AIT for the successful role it has played in sustaining and
enhancing United States relations with Taiwan;
(3)
the Taipei office of AIT is housed in buildings which were not originally designed for the
important functions that AIT performs, whose location does not provide adequate security
for its employees, and which, because they are almost 50 years old, have become
increasingly expensive to maintain;
(4)
the aging state of the AIT office building in Taipei is neither conducive to the safety
and welfare of AIT's American and local employees nor commensurate with the level of
contact that exists between the United States and Taiwan;
(5)
because of the unofficial character of United States relations with Taiwan, the Department
of State is not responsible for funding the construction of a new office building for the
Taipei office of AIT;
(6)
AIT has made a good faith effort to set aside funds for the construction of a new office
building, but these funds will be insufficient to construct a building that is large and
secure enough to meet AIT's current and future needs; and
(7)
because the Congress established AIT and has a strong interest in United States relations
with Taiwan, the Congress has a special responsibility to ensure that AIT's requirements
for safe and appropriate office quarters are met.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a)
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated the sum of
$75,000,000 for plans for, acquisition of a new site for, and construction of, a new
facility in Taipei, Taiwan, for AIT to carry out its purposes under the Taiwan Relations
Act.
(b)
PURPOSES- Funds made available under subsection (a) may be used only for the purposes of--
(1)
the acquisition of property, facilities and, if necessary, any residences or other
structures located in close physical proximity to such facilities, and
(2)
the provision of security enhancements to AIT to the extent necessary to bring the United
States Government into compliance with all requirements applicable to the security of
United States diplomatic facilities.
(c)
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS- Amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) are authorized to
remain available until expended.
Passed the House of Representatives March 28,
2000.
Attest: Clerk.
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