Crapo Joins Bill to Stop WHO from Using Tax Dollars on Pandemic Treaties

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) to introduce 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 WHO agreements related to pandemic prevention or response and suspends funding for the WHO until such agreements are ratified.

“Protecting Americans’ individual freedoms and liberties must remain paramount.” Crapo said.  “The WHO’s poor response to the COVID-19 pandemic has left lasting negative impacts on our economy.  The United States should not give up its sovereignty to global bodies without congressional approval.”

“We cannot allow the World Health Organization (WHO) to spend American tax dollars on another failed pandemic response,” said Senator Barrasso. “Its 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 United States 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 Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee). 

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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