Ocean County Leader

With the support and vote of Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), the House passed legislation today that would prevent the Biden-Harris Administration from signing the World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic treaty without prior Senate ratification. The bill passed with a vote of 219-199.

"The World Health Organization’s pandemic treaty—which has been drafted through backroom negotiations with no transparency—is an absolute power grab by a troubled U.N. agency that is in the pocket of China’s Communist dictator Xi Jinping," said Smith, a cosponsor of the No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act (HR 1425).

"From the very start, we have been pressing the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure that our U.S. sovereignty is protected from the unelected bureaucrats at the WHO, but so far, our demands have not been heeded," Smith added.

"This important legislation will help ensure that there is extensive and rigorous review by the American people—who would be forced to foot the bill for any treaty commitments—and sufficient public debate by members of the Senate before any agreement can be made by the Biden-Harris Administration," Smith said.

Specifically, HR 1425 mandates that any international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response agreed to by the World Health Assembly is deemed a treaty and sent to the Senate for advice and consent.

Smith has led efforts in Congress to address concerns about the proposed treaty. He hosted a news conference on Capitol Hill in February featuring a panel of experts from various backgrounds.

"Under no circumstances should our critical health authorities be handed over to WHO bureaucrats," said Smith. "They cannot be empowered to dictate policies to U.S. medical professionals and U.S. taxpayers when it comes to vaccines, therapeutics, and other measures."

"Using potential pandemics as a pretext to violate principles of good governance only serves to erode trust and further undermines international cooperation," he added.

"And we most certainly won’t be signing a blank check," noted Smith, referring to undetermined financial commitments included in current WHO proposals being worked on by the Biden Administration. "The American taxpayer should not be fleeced like this."

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