Washington D.C. – This evening, House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX) spoke on the House floor in support of his bill H.R. 2002, the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019. This bipartisan legislation, which passed the House unanimously, seeks to deepen the United States’ commitment to Taiwan by eliminating excessive diplomatic restrictions at the State Department, driven by communist China’s bullying, and providing Congress access to these policies for the first time. H.R. 2002 builds on the unshakable foundation of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) of 1979, which celebrated its 40th anniversary on April 10th just last month. Additionally, Lead Republican McCaul spoke in support of H.Res. 273, which also passed the House, reaffirming America’s commitment to Taiwan and the implementation of the TRA. Together, these bills aim to expand the strategic partnership between the United States and Taiwan, and celebrate Taiwan’s development as a beacon of democracy, that respects human rights and the rule of law, in the Indo-Pacific region. 

 

H.R. 2002, the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019, introduced by Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX), to foster security in Taiwan. 

To watch the full remarks on H.R. 2002, click here. 

“… Since the TRA was enacted in 1979, Taiwan’s government has evolved into a vibrant democracy, while China’s government has become more and more authoritarian.

“It is improper to restrict relations with Taiwan to avoid offending the Chinese Communist Party, and it’s out of step with reality to keep pretending that Taiwan is anything other than a fully functioning democracy.

“Taiwan deserves a more elevated relationship with the United States, and I urge my colleagues to join me in rewarding Taiwan’s commitment to democracy by supporting the Taiwan Assurance Act.”

 

H.Res. 273, Reaffirming the United States commitment to Taiwan and to the implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act, introduced by Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY). 

To watch the full remarks on H.Res. 273, click here. 

“… The Taiwan Relations Act remains one of Congress’s most distinguished and lasting contributions to U.S. foreign policy.

“The TRA built an unshakeable foundation for U.S.-Taiwan relations, and the people of Taiwan have repaid this gesture by transforming Taiwan into a beacon of democracy and individual liberties.  As is often said, Taiwan is a force for good in the world.

“Reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Taiwan at this moment is essential because we’re standing together to face a growing threat. Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping is using all the tools at his disposal – military, economic, informational, and diplomatic – to try to destroy Taiwan’s democracy.”

 

For a press release on the introduction of H.R. 2002 and H.Res 273, click here. 

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