Sec. 605. Taiwan Fellowship Program
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/bill/117/s/4428/rs/section-605·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of State— shall establish the Taiwan Fellowship Program to provide eligible United States citizens with fellowship opportunities in Taiwan lasting up to 2 years; and may modify the name of the Program, in consultation with the American Institute in Taiwan and the implementing partner. The American Institute in Taiwan should use amounts appropriated pursuant to section 608(a) to provide annual or multi-year grants to an appropriate implementing partner. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the American Institute in Taiwan and, as appropriate, the implementing partner, subject to available funding, should award to eligible United States citizens— not fewer than 5 fellowships during each of the first 2 years of the Program; and not fewer than 10 fellowships during each of the remaining years of the Program.
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the American Institute in Taiwan, in consultation with the Secretary of State, should— begin negotiations with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, or with another appropriate entity, for the purpose of entering into an agreement to facilitate the placement of fellows in an agency of the governing authorities on Taiwan; and begin the process of selecting an implementing partner, which— shall agree to meet all of the legal requirements required to operate in Taiwan; and shall be composed of staff who demonstrate significant experience managing exchange programs in the Indo-Pacific region.
During the first year of each fellowship under this section, each fellow should study— the Mandarin Chinese language; the people, history, and political climate on Taiwan; and the issues affecting the relationship between the United States and the Indo-Pacific region. During the second year of each fellowship under this section, each fellow, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, the American Institute in Taiwan, and the implementing partner, and in accordance with the purposes of this title, shall work in— a parliamentary office, ministry, or other agency of the governing authorities on Taiwan; or an organization outside of the governing authorities on Taiwan, whose interests are associated with the interests of the fellow and the agency of the United States Government from which the fellow had been employed.
Notwithstanding any requirement under this section, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the American Institute in Taiwan and, as appropriate, the implementing partner, may alter the curriculum requirements under subsection
(d)for fellows whose placement in a parliamentary office, ministry, or other agency of the governing authorities on Taiwan is for a period shorter than 2 years. A United States citizen is eligible for a fellowship under this section if he or she— is an employee of the United States Government; has at least 2 years of experience in any branch of the United States Government; has a demonstrated professional or educational background in the relationship between the United States and countries in the Indo-Pacific region; and has demonstrated his or her commitment to further service in the United States Government. Each recipient of a fellowship under this section shall agree, as a condition of such fellowship— to maintain satisfactory progress in language training and appropriate behavior in Taiwan, as determined by the Department of State, the American Institute in Taiwan and, as appropriate, its implementing partner; to refrain from engaging in any intelligence or intelligence-related activity on behalf of the United States Government; and to continue Federal Government employment for a period of not shorter than 4 years after the conclusion of the fellowship or for not shorter than 2 years for a fellowship that is 1 year or shorter. The implementing partner, in close coordination with the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan, shall— make efforts to recruit fellowship candidates who reflect the diversity of the United States; select fellows for the Taiwan Fellowship Program based solely on merit, with appropriate supervision from the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan; and prioritize the selection of candidates willing to serve a fellowship lasting 1 year or longer. The implementing partner should provide each fellow in the first year (or shorter duration, as jointly determined by the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan for those who are not serving a 2-year fellowship) with— intensive Mandarin Chinese language training; and courses in the political economy of Taiwan, China, and the broader Indo-Pacific. The Department of State, in coordination with the American Institute in Taiwan and, as appropriate, the implementing partner, may waive any of the training required under paragraph
(2)to the extent that a fellow has Mandarin language skills, knowledge of the topic described in paragraph (2)(B), or for other related reasons approved by the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan. If any of the training requirements are waived for a fellow serving a 2-year fellowship, the training portion of his or her fellowship may be shortened to the extent appropriate. The implementing partner, in consultation with the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan, shall maintain an office and at least 1 full-time staff member in Taiwan— to liaise with the American Institute in Taiwan and the governing authorities on Taiwan; and to serve as the primary in-country point of contact for the recipients of fellowships under this Act and their dependents. The implementing partner shall perform other functions in association in support of the Taiwan Fellowship Program, including logistical and administrative functions, as prescribed by the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan. Any fellow who fails to comply with the requirements under this section shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan for— the Federal funds expended for the fellow’s participation in the fellowship, as set forth in paragraphs
(2)and (3); and interest accrued on such funds (calculated at the prevailing rate). Any fellow who violates paragraph
(1)or
(2)of subsection
(b)shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan in an amount equal to the sum of— all of the Federal funds expended for the fellow’s participation in the fellowship; and interest on the amount specified in subparagraph (A), which shall be calculated at the prevailing rate. Any fellow who violates subsection (b)(3) shall reimburse the American Institute in Taiwan in an amount equal to the difference between— the amount specified in paragraph (2); and the product of— the amount the fellow received in compensation during the final year of the fellowship, including the value of any allowances and benefits received by the fellow; multiplied by the percentage of the period specified in subsection (b)(3) during which the fellow did not remain employed by the Federal Government.