WHEREAS, Good health is essential to every citizen of the world and access to the highest standards of health information and services is necessary to improve public health; 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, The Republic of China'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 such infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and the plague, and the first to eradicate polio and provide children with 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 the Republic of China has expressed a willingness to assist financially and technically in international health activities supported by the World Health Organization; and

WHEREAS, Direct, unobstructed participation in international health forums and programs is critical to limit the spread of various infectious diseases and achieve world health; and

WHEREAS, The European Parliament called accordingly on the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, to accept observer status for Taiwan and on its member states to support the application of Taiwan as an observer to the World Health Organization; and

WHEREAS, The United States House of Representatives and Senate authorized the Secretary of State to endorse observer status for Taiwan at the World Health Assembly; and

WHEREAS, President Bush and senior members of his administration have vocalized support for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, By this Senate of the State of Rhode Island that the efforts of the Republic of China on Taiwan in support of world health are commended and best wishes are extended for its application as an observer to the World Health Organization; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary General of the World Health Organization, and the Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston.