,,ii ,calendar ,no4 #ij #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #aaea ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ai1 #bjac ,received2 read twice and placed on the calendar ,,an ,,act ,to direct the ,secretary of ,state to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for ,taiwan at the triennial ,international ,civil ,aviation ,organization ,assembly1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,concerning the participation of ,taiwan in the ,international ,civil ,aviation ,organization 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,safe1 secure1 and economical international air navigation and transport is important to every citizen of the world1 and safe skies are ensured through uniform aviation standards1 harmonization of security protocols1 and expeditious dissemination of information regarding new regulations and other relevant matters4 7#b7 ,direct and unobstructed participation in international civil aviation forums and programs is beneficial for all nations and their civil aviation authorities4 ,civil aviation is vital to all due to the international transit and commerce it makes possible1 but must also be closely regulated due to the possible use of aircraft as weapons of mass destruction or to transport biological1 chemical1 and nuclear weapons or other dangerous materials4 7#c7 ,the ,convention on ,international ,civil ,aviation1 signed in ,chicago1 ,illinois1 on ,december #g1 #aidd1 and entered into force ,april #d1 #aidg1 established the ,international ,civil ,aviation ,organization 7,,icao71 stating ,the aims and objectives of the ,organization are to develop the principles and techniques of international air navigation and to foster the planning and development of international air transport so as to 4 4 4 meet the needs of the peoples of the world for safe1 regular1 efficient and economical air transport44 7#d7 ,the terrorist attacks of ,september #aa1 #bjja1 demonstrated that the global civil aviation network is subject to vulnerabilities that can be exploited in one country to harm another4 ,the ability of civil aviation authorities to coordinate1 preempt and act swiftly and in unison is an essential element of crisis prevention and response4 7#e7 ,following the terrorist attacks of ,september #aa1 #bjja1 the ,,icao convened a high-level ,ministerial ,conference on ,aviation ,security that endorsed a global strategy for strengthening aviation security worldwide and issued a public declaration that a uniform approach in a global system is essential to ensure aviation security throughout the world and that deficiencies in any part of the system constitute a threat to the entire global system1 and that there should be a commitment to foster international cooperation in the field of aviation security and harmonize the implementation of security measures4 7#f7 ,the ,taipei ,flight ,information ,region1 under the jurisdiction of ,taiwan1 covers #ahj1jjj square nautical miles of airspace and provides air traffic control services to over #a4b million flights annually1 with the ,taiwan ,taoyuan ,international ,airport recognized as the #ajth and #aith largest airport by international cargo volume and number of international passengers1 respectively in #bjaa4 7#g7 ,despite the established international consensus regarding a uniform approach to aviation security that fosters international cooperation1 exclusion from the ,,icao since #aiga has impeded the efforts of the ,government of ,taiwan to maintain civil aviation practices that comport with evolving international standards1 due to its inability to contact the ,,icao for up-to-date information on aviation standards and norms1 secure amendments to the organization's regulations in a timely manner1 obtain sufficient and timely information needed to prepare for the implementation of new systems and procedures set forth by the ,,icao1 receive technical assistance in implementing new regulations1 and participate in technical and academic seminars hosted by the ,,icao4 7#h7 ,on ,october #h1 #bjaj1 the ,department of ,state praised the #cgth ,,icao ,assembly on its adoption of a ,declaration on ,aviation ,security1 but noted that because every airport offers a potential entry point into this global system1 every nation faces the threat from gaps in aviation security throughout the world--and all nations must share the responsibility for securing that system4 7#i7 ,on ,october #b1 #bjab1 ,taiwan became the #cgth participant to join the ,united ,states ,visa ,waiver program1 which is expected to stimulate tourism and commerce that will rely increasingly on international commercial aviation4 7#aj7 ,the ,government of ,taiwan's exclusion from the ,,icao constitutes a serious gap in global standards that should be addressed at the earliest opportunity in advance of the #chth ,,icao ,assembly in ,september #bjac4 7#aa7 ,the ,federal ,aviation ,administration and its counterpart agencies in ,taiwan have enjoyed close collaboration on a wide range of issues related to innovation and technology1 civil engineering1 safety and security1 and navigation4 7#ab7 ,the ,,icao has allowed a wide range of observers to participate in the activities of the organization4 7#ac7 ,the ,united ,states1 in the #aiid ,taiwan ,policy ,review1 declared its intention to support ,taiwan's participation in appropriate international organizations and has consistently reiterated that support4 7#ad7 ,senate ,concurrent ,resolution #ag1 agreed to on ,september #aa1 #bjab1 affirmed the sense of ,congress that-- 7,a7 meaningful participation by the ,government of ,taiwan as an observer in the meetings and activities of the ,,icao will contribute both to the fulfillment of the ,,icao's overarching mission and to the success of a global strategy to address aviation security threats based on effective international cooperation2 and 7,b7 the ,united ,states ,government should take a leading role in garnering international support for the granting of observer status to ,taiwan in the ,,icao4 7#ae7 ,following the enactment of ,public ,law #ajh-bce1 a law authorizing the ,secretary of ,state to initiate and implement a plan to endorse and obtain observer status for ,taiwan at the annual summit of the ,world ,health ,assembly and subsequent advocacy by the ,united ,states1 ,taiwan was granted observer status to the ,world ,health ,assembly for four consecutive years since #bjji4 ,both prior to and in its capacity as an observer1 ,taiwan has contributed significantly to the international community's collective efforts in pandemic control1 monitoring1 early warning1 and other related matters4 7#af7 ,,icao rules and existing practices allow for the meaningful participation of non-contracting countries as well as other bodies in its meetings and activities through granting of observer status4 7b7 ,taiwan's ,participation at ,,icao ,the ,secretary of ,state shall-- 7#a7 develop a strategy to obtain observer status for ,taiwan at the triennial ,,icao ,assembly--next held in ,september #bjac in ,montreal1 ,canada--and other related meetings1 activities1 and mechanisms thereafter2 and 7#b7 instruct the ,united ,states ,mission to the ,,icao to officially request observer status for ,taiwan at the triennial ,,icao ,assembly and other related meetings1 activities1 and mechanisms thereafter and to actively urge ,,icao member states to support such observer status and participation for ,taiwan4 7c7 ,report concerning observer status for ,taiwan at the ,,icao assembly ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit to ,congress a report1 in unclassified form1 describing the ,united ,states strategy to endorse and obtain observer status for ,taiwan at the triennial ,,icao ,assembly and at subsequent ,,icao ,assemblies and at other related meetings1 activities1 and mechanisms thereafter4 ,the report shall include the following3 7#a7 ,a description of the efforts the ,secretary of ,state has made to encourage ,,icao member states to promote ,taiwan's bid to obtain observer status4 7#b7 ,the steps the ,secretary of ,state will take to endorse and obtain observer status for ,taiwan in ,,icao and at other related meetings1 activities1 and mechanisms thereafter4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,june #ah1 #bjac4 ,karen ,l4 ,haas1 ,clerk ,june #ai1 #bjac ,received2 read twice and placed on the calendar