Skip to main content
S 249 116th Congress Senate International Affairs Asia Congressional oversight International organizations and cooperation Taiwan World health

A bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 20, 2019 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 12 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 12, 2020
Held at the desk.
May 12, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
May 12, 2020
Received in the House.
May 11, 2020
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2346-2347)
May 11, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
May 11, 2020
The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (CR S2346)
May 11, 2020
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2345-2347)
Jun 3, 2019
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 100.
Jun 3, 2019
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
May 22, 2019
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jan 29, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Jan 29, 2019
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 1,582 In the nature of a substitute. Agreed to May 11, 2020
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill directs the Department of State to include additional information in its annual reports concerning Taiwan's participation at the World Health Organization's World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer. The report shall describe changes and improvements to the State Department's plan to support Taiwan's observer status at the WHA, following any meetings at which Taiwan did not participate under such status. (China has opposed Taiwan's participation, based on its position that Taiwan is part of China and not a separate country.)

The State Department shall regularly report to Congress on U.S. actions and plans to strengthen Taiwan's official and unofficial diplomatic relationships around the world.

What's happening now May 12, 2020

Held at the desk.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 249: A bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for other purposes.. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-249/
MLA
"S. 249: A bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for other purposes.." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-249/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 249, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-249/.
Markdown link
[S. 249: A bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-249/)
Report a problem