H.Con.Res. 46 — Introduced in House

IV 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 46 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 30, 2013 Mr. Andrews submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Urging the Government of Taiwan to grant former President Chen Shui-bian medical parole to ensure that he receives the highest level of medical attention. Whereas Taiwan’s democratic development is of tremendous significance globally and to the Pacific region; Whereas over the past two decades, the people of Taiwan have worked hard to establish a vibrant and pluralistic democracy in their country and conducted five successful presidential elections, successive elections for members of their national legislature, numerous local elections, and two national referendums; Whereas since the administration of the Kuomintang Nationalists came to office in 2008, a large number of investigations and prosecutions led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have been brought against officials from the previous administration, including former President Chen Shui-bian; Whereas most of these prosecutions were politically motivated, in an apparent pattern of political score-settling; Whereas the health of former President Chen, who is serving a 19-year prison sentence, has deteriorated markedly in the past two years; Whereas concerned foreign dignitaries and human rights activists from the United States and Europe have visited former President Chen in jail since the summer of 2012; Whereas former President Chen has not been able to receive adequate medical treatment in accordance with his wishes, such as selecting either doctors or hospitals, and has not been able to have complete access to his medical records; and Whereas section 2(c) of the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301(c)) declares that [t]he preservation and enhancement of the human rights of all the people of Taiwan are hereby reaffirmed as objectives of the United States.: Now, therefore, be it That Congress urges the Government of Taiwan to grant former President Chen Shui-bian medical parole to ensure that he receives the highest level of medical attention, effective immediately.