U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation to prevent the World Health Organization (WHO) from repeating past pandemic failures at the expense of hardworking taxpayers.
The Defending American Sovereignty in Global Pandemics Act would mandate Senate approval for the U.S. to enter any World Health Organization (WHO) agreements related to pandemic prevention or response and suspends funding for the WHO until such agreements are ratified.
“We cannot allow the World Health Organization (WHO) to spend American tax dollars on another failed pandemic response,” said Senator Barrasso. “Their blatant partisanship and incompetence during COVID-19 was inexcusable. The mishandling of the pandemic has caused lasting damage to our country’s health and economy. Any pandemic-related WHO agreements must receive Senate approval before using the hard-earned money of American taxpayers.”
This bill stops the U.S. from entering any international agreement, convention or instrument under the WHO related to pandemic prevention or response without ratification by the Senate. Additionally, the WHO would be prohibited from spending U.S. funds on such agreements until it is ratified by the Senate.
Co-sponsors of this legislation include U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).
Full text of the legislation can be found here.
