Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, gave the following statement regarding S. 2426 a bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). Senator Gardner introduced the bill with Senator Cardin as an original cosponsor on December 18, 2015. The legislation passed unanimously out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 28, 2016.
“I am pleased to join my colleague Senator Gardner on this bipartisan bill which requires the President to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). The State Department supports Taiwan as an observer at INTERPOL, the bill was overwhelmingly passed by the House by a vote of 392-0, and I believe that quick Senate action is warranted as well. Taiwan’s inclusion in appropriate international organizations is important for Taiwan, important for the United States, and important for the entire international community. ”
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