HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 57

(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates G. White,

H. White and Stalnaker)



Expressing the full support of the West Virginia Legislature for the Republic of China on Taiwan to be permitted to appropriate and meaningful participation in activities of the World Health Organization.

Whereas, The Republic of China on Taiwan's achievements in the field of health are substantial, including one of the highest life expectancy levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates comparable to those of western countries, the eradication of the infectious diseases of cholera, smallpox and the plague, and being the first Asian nation to eradicate polio and the first country in the world to provide children with free hepatitis B vaccinations; and
Whereas, The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its Taiwanese counterpart have enjoyed close collaboration on a wide range of public health issues; and
Whereas, In recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness to financially and technically assist the international aid and health activities supported by the World Health Organization; and
Whereas, Taiwan's population of 23 million people is larger than that of 75% of the World Health Organization member states; and
Whereas, The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in appropriate international organizations; and
Whereas, Taiwan's participation in the activities of the World Health Organization could bring many benefits to the state of health not only in Taiwan but also regionally and globally; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature of West Virginia strongly urges that the Republic of China on Taiwan be permitted to appropriate and meaningful participation in the activities of the World Health Organization; and, be it
Further Resolved, That suitably prepared copies of this Resolution be sent to the President of the United States, the West Virginia Congressional Delegation, the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Washington, D.C. and the World Health Organization.