【TPP Session Achievements Report】The TPP Caucus:“Strive for the best for the people.”

The 7th session of the 10th Legislative Yuan is coming to an end. Looking back at the achievements of the Taiwan People's Party caucus has made during this session, they have actively proposed bills on national security, industrial development, transportation safety, labor rights, information security, education, and culture. They were also courageous in exposing corruption and fighting against collusions between government officials and businesses. On May 31st, the TPP  caucus, Convenor Chen-yuan Chiu, Deputy Convenor Hsiang-Ling Lai, Secretary General Chyi-lu Jang, and legislators Cynthia Wu and Wan-Hui Chen, held a press conference to review the accomplishments of the caucus during this session.

 

The TPP caucus adheres to the commitment to "putting people first" and advocates for policies that embody professionalism and values. They broke away from the confinement imposed by the blue and green parties, and ensured fair oversight in government from a third perspective. During this session, a total of 71 bills were proposed and 72 bills passed third reading. The TPP caucus will continue to scrutinize the government and speak on behalf of the people, striving for maximum welfare.

　

Legislator Chen-yuan Chiu stated that key bills include the "Basic Law for Countermeasures against Declining Birthrate''. As for national security, active efforts were made to urge the Ministry of National Defense to strengthen military force and redesign combat training to fulfill "Taiwan’s Sovereignty, Cross-Strait peace" and the principle of "Prepare and Not Provoke". At the same time, TPP caucus spared no effort in promoting legislative diplomacy with Central and South America, the United States, Japan, France, Southeast Asia, and other countries.

　

Chiu emphasized that he had proposed the "Basic Traffic Safety Act" last year setting a new record with a staggering 375,632 road traffic accidents in 2022, with over 500,000 casualties. He urged the government to present the "Basic Traffic Safety Act" during the next session and prioritize its completion to ensure effective traffic safety reforms and protect the lives and property of the people. In addition, he called on the government to assist small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance their competitiveness and strengthen economic resilience.

 

Legislator Hsiang-ling Lai stated that the imminent bankruptcy of the Labor Annuity Insurance requires urgent reform. As the highest legislative body representing public opinion, the Legislative Yuan has an obligation to take concrete actions. Lai has put forth her own proposal, the "Organizational Regulations for the Legislative Yuan Public Pension Reform Committee," which has garnered support from different parties and is currently under committee review. Additionally, with the increasing number of food delivery workers, TPP caucus has taken the lead in proposing the "Management and Protection of Food Delivery Platform and Workers' Rights Act," aiming to safeguard the rights of delivery personnel with the cooperation of all political parties.

 

Lai expressed that starting from last year, through inquiries and budget proposals, she has consistently demanded the prompt submission of the long-overdue adjustment to the police duty allowance, which had remained unchanged for nearly 30 years. She is glad to see that the adjustment plan will come into effect on July 1st. Furthermore, as fraud becomes rampant, the current shortage of manpower severely affects the quality of investigations and prosecutions. Lai has already requested the Directorate-General Personnel Administration of the Executive Yuan to carefully assess the situation and properly allocate personnel.

 

Legislator Chyi-lu Jang pointed out that during his tenure as the convener of the Education and Culture Committee, he presided over several important public hearings. These hearings invited various sectors to discuss topics such as the subsidiary laws of the "The Equalization of Land Rights Act," "Enhancing the Quality of Higher Education and Talent Cultivation in Taiwan," and "Precluding Ticket Scalping and Unfair Practices." He successfully promoted the third reading of the amendment to the "Cultural and Creative Industries Development Act." Additionally, he led a delegation to inspect the status of talent cultivation in the domestic semiconductor industry and urged relevant departments to strengthen industry-academia collaboration in line with domestic development.

 

Jang stated that during this legislative session, the fundamental law of compulsory education, the "Compulsory Education Law," underwent its most significant revision in 44 years. The revisions addressed practical issues in compulsory education, such as curriculum guidelines, scholarships and aids, and normal class grouping. Without any amendments in , the amendment to the "Special Education Act" passed its third reading. The Ministry of Education pledged to achieve a student-to-teacher ratio of 1:8 within five years and worked to secure budgets to assist local governments in implementing this goal. The amendment emphasized the importance of respecting the dignity and rights of special education students and young children, aiming to reduce discrimination and strengthen the support system and effectiveness evaluation of special education.

 

Legislator Cynthia Wu stated that Taiwan is facing multiple challenges both domestically and internationally. She advocates for amending the “Central Bank Act” to establish a sovereign wealth fund using 10% of foreign exchange reserves. This would strengthen international financial connections, establish Taiwan's diplomatic and national security shield, and inject funds into fiscal and social welfare expenditures. The goal is to promote and build a solid foundation for Taiwan's sustainable development.

 

Wu also proposed the "Digital Healthcare Development Act," to improve the environment for medical technology. By integrating digital technology with healthcare, this act aims to institutionalize the utilization of personal health information and address the sustainable operation of the national health insurance system in the face of an aging population. To achieve this, the establishment of comprehensive measures for personal data protection and cybersecurity are crucial. By drawing insights from the EU's GDPR, she proposed the "Personal Data Protection Act," that focuses on the establishment of an independent agency and penalties. Addressing the imbalance in the "Cybersecurity Management Act," which focuses more on IT and neglects OT (operational technology), she proposed aligning with international standards to enhance OT regulations and incorporating assessment criteria for cybersecurity risks.

 

Legislator Chen Wan-hui stated that during this legislative session, she has been dedicated to exposing social injustices in addition to promoting various bills and overseeing government affairs. This includes uncovering scandals such as former government spokesperson Chen Chung-hsien accepting improper entertainment, the Tainan 88 shooting case involving optoelectronics interests, the Taiyen Corporation chairman owning an illegally acquired luxury mansion, and the close connections between high-ranking members of the Democratic Party and the main suspect in the im.B fraud case.

 

Wan-Hui Chen pointed out that she received a complaint from a survey assistant last year, which led to her urging the Directorate-General Personnel Administration of the Executive Yuan to address the long-standing issue of stagnant wages. She successfully pushed the Ministry of the Interior to propose a salary adjustment plan. Moreover, she introduced the draft of the "Regional Revitalization Act," worked on improving the amendment to the "Renewable Energy Development Act," and also pushed for the "Prevention of Human Trafficking Act" to fight against criminal organizations.

 

TPP caucus stated that they adhere to a rational, pragmatic, and scientific spirit, caring about Taiwan's overall interests and the welfare of the people. They actively urge the government to improve road safety, promote pension reforms, enhance educational quality, and prioritize personal data protection. They are also committed to exposing wrongdoing. TPP caucus’s outstanding achievements are evident and will not let down the people who have faith in them, they promise to exert their strongest power of oversight.