PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.535 / 115th Congress

Taiwan Travel Act

Became Public Law No: 115-135.

Official summary

Version 49 · Public Law · Mar 16, 2018

Taiwan Travel Act

(Sec. 3) This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. government should encourage visits between U.S. and Taiwanese officials at all levels.

The bill states that it should be U.S. policy to: (1) allow U.S. officials at all levels to travel to Taiwan to meet their Taiwanese counterparts; (2) permit high-level Taiwanese officials to enter the United States under respectful conditions and to meet with U.S. officials, including officials from the Departments of State and Defense; and (3) encourage the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office and any other instrumentality established by Taiwan to conduct business in the United States.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1] · R–OH

Committees

  • Foreign Relations Committee
  • Foreign Affairs Committee
81 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Became Public Law No: 115-135.

  2. Became Public Law No: 115-135.

  3. Signed by President.

  4. Signed by President.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1290-1291)

  9. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1290-1291)

  10. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 310.

  11. Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker without amendment. Without written report.

  12. Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker without amendment. Without written report.

  13. Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

  14. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

  15. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  16. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H57)

  17. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H57)

  18. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 535.

  19. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H57-59)

  20. Mr. Royce (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  21. Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

  22. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  23. Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

  24. Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  25. Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

  26. Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

  27. Introduced in House

  28. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.535 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.535 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.535 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.535 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources