Staff Reports
A House Republican from Texas, Rep. Lance Gooden, is leading a group of House Republicans to demand answers from the Biden administration. This demand is focused on a proposed treaty by the World Health Organization that aims to broaden the agency’s powers to tackle future pandemics. Gooden expressed concerns about the treaty expanding the World Health Organization’s authority while not effectively preventing future pandemics.
The proposed pandemic treaty, drafted by 194 member states of the WHO, is slated to be voted on at the end of this month during the World Health Assembly. The treaty seeks to improve readiness and reaction to pandemics by implementing measures to streamline response strategies and communication. However, some have raised concerns that the treaty could give excessive power to the WHO and allow the agency to enforce extensive lockdowns and control information, leading to worries about countries relinquishing control to the organization.
#EXCLUSIVE — Rep. @LanceGooden is demanding answers from the Biden administration regarding concerns about a proposed treaty being considered by the World Health Organization that would expand the agency’s abilities to respond to future pandemics. https://t.co/fJg8CxKune
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 22, 2024
Additionally, some lawmakers, including Rep. Gooden, have expressed uneasiness about a provision in the treaty that would allocate 20% of the production of pandemic-related products, such as tests, treatments, and vaccines, to the WHO. This provision originated from the vaccine disparity between high-income and developing countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some Republicans have argued that this could result in the United States surrendering its intellectual property rights and thus pushed for answers on how the agreement could impact the United States’ intellectual property market.
The Republican lawmakers listed various questions they want the agency to address regarding the potential treaty’s financial implications and any potential undermining of U.S. sovereignty. They also emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the WHO’s role in potentially covering up China’s involvement. At least nine GOP lawmakers have signed onto the letter, expressing their opposition to granting the WHO any additional authority until these concerns are thoroughly addressed. The Washington Examiner reached out for comments from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in response to the letter’s demands.
