Assembly Joint Resolution No. 15–Assemblymen Dini, Anderson, Angle, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Brower, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, de Braga, Freeman, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Hettrick, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams

 

Joint Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Coffin, James, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O’Connell, O’Donnell, Porter, Raggio, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener

 

FILE NUMBER..........

 

Assembly Joint RESOLUTION—Urging the President and the Congress of the United States to support the participation of Taiwan of the Republic of China in the World Health Organization.

 

   Whereas, Good health is a basic right for every citizen of the world

 and access to the highest standards of health information and services is

 necessary to help guarantee this right; and

   Whereas, Participation in international health programs is crucial to

 world health as the potential for the spread of various infectious diseases

 increases proportionately with the increase in world trade and travel; and

   Whereas, The World Health Organization set forth in the first chapter

 of its charter the objective of attaining the highest possible level of health

 for all people; and

   whereas, In 1977, the World Health Organization established “Health

 for All by the Year 2000” as its overriding priority and reaffirmed that

 commitment in 1998 by endorsing a new global health policy “Health for

 All in the 21st Century”; and

   whereas, Taiwan’s population of 21 million is larger than three

-quarters of the member states already in the World Health Organization,

 and the country shares the noble goals of that organization; and

   whereas, The achievements of Taiwan in the field of health are

 substantial and include one of the highest life expectancy levels in Asia,

 maternal and infant mortality rates comparable to those of western

 countries, the eradication of such infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox

 and the plague, and the distinction of being the first country in the world to

 provide children with free hepatitis B vaccinations; and

   whereas, Before its loss of membership in the World Health

 Organization in 1972, Taiwan sent specialists to serve in other member

 countries on countless health projects and its health experts held key

 positions in the organization, all to the benefit of the entire Pacific region;

 and

   whereas, Presently, this remarkable country is not allowed to

 participate in any forums and workshops organized by the World Health

 Organization concerning the latest technologies in the diagnosis,

 monitoring and control of disease; and

   whereas, In recent years, the government and the expert scientists and

 doctors in the field of medicine of Taiwan have expressed a willingness to

assist financially or technically in international aid and health activities

supported by the World Health Organization, but these offers have

 ultimately been refused; and

   whereas, According to the constitution of the World Health

 Organization, Taiwan does not fulfill the criteria for membership; and

   Whereas, Because the World Health Organization does not allow

 observers to participate in the activities of the organization and

 participation by Taiwan would bring tremendous benefits, it is in the best

 interests of all persons in this world that Taiwan be admitted to the World

 Health Organization; now, therefore, be it

   Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of Nevada,

 Jointly, That the members of the 71st session of the Nevada Legislature

 do hereby urge President Bush and the Congress of the United States to

 support all efforts made by Taiwan of the Republic of China to gain

 meaningful participation in the World Health Organization; and be it

 further

   Resolved, That the policy of the United States should include the

 pursuit of an initiative in the World Health Organization that would ensure

 such participation; and be it further

   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit

 a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Vice

 President of the United States as the presiding officer of the Senate, the

 Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of Health and

 Human Services, the World Health Organization, the Director General of

 the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco and each

 member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation; and be it further

   Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon passage.

 

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