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Gallagher Introduces Bill to Sanction China for Lack of COVID-19 Transparency

June 22, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today introduced the COVID-19 Act of 2021, a bill that would authorize sanctions and other restrictions on Chinese Communist Party (CCP) affiliated scientists if the CCP fails to allow a transparent, international investigation into the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). The bill would also 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.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate yesterday. Click HERE for bill text.
"The CCP has lied repeatedly about the origins of this pandemic, blocked access to important records from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and corrupted the World Health Organization. This is unacceptable,"saidRep. Gallagher."The world deserves answers so as to prevent something like this from ever happening again. The United States must hold the CCP accountable through sanctions on the Chinese Academy of Sciences and by cutting off federal support and cooperation with Chinese scientists."
"The Chinese Communist Party does not want a full, forensic investigation into the origins of COVID-19," Sen. Rubio said. "If they did, it would have happened at some point during the last 18 months. Instead of hoping the Chinese authorities will suddenly cooperate, the United States needs to compel them to cooperate. One obvious step in that direction is to cut off Federal funding for research conducted with these state-run Chinese entities. Additionally, we must impose sanctions against the leadership of these entities and exact a personal cost. It is time for the U.S. to take action and lead an international response that settles for nothing less than a full forensic investigation of the Wuhan labs."
Unless the CCP allows a transparent international forensic investigation access to the Wuhan Institute of Virology within 90 days of enactment, the COVID-19 Act of 2021 would specifically:
  • 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.