[106th Congress Public Law 212] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office] <DOC> [DOCID: f:publ212.106] [[Page 114 STAT. 332]] Public Law 106-212 106th Congress An Act To authorize funds for the construction of a facility in Taipei, Taiwan suitable for the mission of the American Institute in Taiwan. <<NOTE: May 26, 2000 - [H.R. 3707]>> Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in <<NOTE: American Institute in Taiwan Facilities Enhancement Act. Foreign relations.>> Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``American Institute in Taiwan Facilities Enhancement Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds that-- (1) in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), the Congress established the American Institute in Taiwan (hereafter in this Act referred to as ``AIT''), a nonprofit corporation incorporated in the District of Columbia, to carry out on behalf of the United States Government any and all programs, transactions, and other relations with Taiwan; (2) the Congress has recognized AIT for the successful role it has played in sustaining and enhancing United States relations with Taiwan; (3) the Taipei office of AIT is housed in buildings which were not originally designed for the important functions that AIT performs, whose location does not provide adequate security for its employees, and which, because they are almost 50 years old, have become increasingly expensive to maintain; (4) the aging state of the AIT office building in Taipei is neither conducive to the safety and welfare of AIT's American and local employees nor commensurate with the level of contact that exists between the United States and Taiwan; (5) AIT has made a good faith effort to set aside funds for the construction of a new office building, but these funds will be insufficient to construct a building that is large and secure enough to meet AIT's current and future needs; and (6) because the Congress established AIT and has a strong interest in United States relations with Taiwan, the Congress has a special responsibility to ensure that AIT's requirements for safe and appropriate office quarters are met. SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated the sum of $75,000,000 to AIT-- (1) for plans for a new facility and, if necessary, residences or other structures located in close physical proximity to such [[Page 114 STAT. 333]] facility, in Taipei, Taiwan, for AIT to carry out its purposes under the Taiwan Relations Act; and (2) for acquisition by purchase or construction of such facility, residences, or other structures. (b) Limitations.--Funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) may only be used if the new facility described in that subsection meets all requirements applicable to the security of United States diplomatic facilities, including the requirements in the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Anti-Terrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.) and the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (as enacted by section 1000(a)(7) of Public Law 106-113; 113 Stat. 1501A-451), except for those requirements which the Director of AIT certifies to the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate are not applicable on account of the special status of AIT. <<NOTE: Certification.>> In making such certification, the Director shall also certify that security considerations permit the exercise of the waiver of such requirements. (c) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until expended. Approved May 26, 2000. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 3707: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): Mar. 28, considered and passed House. May 2, considered and passed Senate, amended. May 18, House concurred in Senate amendment. <all>