Press Releases

Washington, DC—June 24, 2021....Today, Congressman Steve Womack (R-AR) cosponsored the COVID-19 Act of 2021. The legislation—introduced by Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)—would authorize sanctions and other restrictions against Chinese Communist Party (CCP) scientists if China fails to allow a transparent, international investigation into the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). Additionally, it would prohibit any gain-of-function research cooperation between any Chinese individuals and institutions and any individual or institution in the United States that receives federal funding.

Congressman Womack said, “The CCP deliberately suppressed information and hid the truth of the virus from the start. The consequences were a global calamity. The American people and international community deserve to know the origins of this pandemic. There is no question China will continue to cover up the truth and manipulate the WHO unless we force their hand. This bill makes the choice clear—advance a full and transparent investigation or face consequences.”

Unless the CCP allows a transparent international forensic investigation—with access to the Wuhan Institute of Virology—within 90 days of enactment, the COVID-19 Act of 2021 would:

• Sanction leadership at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, including its more than 100 affiliated institutes and laboratories, 13 local branches, and 2 universities;
• Prohibit U.S. federal research dollars from funding any of the aforementioned CAS-affiliated institutions, in addition to more than 430 science and technology enterprises created by the CAS or founded with CAS investment; and
• Prohibit any U.S. individual or institution receiving federal funding from cooperating with any Chinese individual or institution on gain-of-function research.

The full bill text can be found here.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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