March 14, 2024
Speaker Mike Johnson
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell
Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Susan Collins
House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger
Dear Speaker Johnson, Leader McConnell, Ranking Member Collins, and Chair Granger:
As you prepare the final package for the remaining FY2024 appropriations bills, we urge you to include two provisions in the House-passed State/Foreign Operations bill that will: 1) defund the World Health Organization and 2) require the constitutionally mandated Senate ratification before any funds can be used to implement or support the Pandemic Treaty and amendments to the International Health Regulations that are scheduled to be approved by the World Health Assembly at the end of May 2024.
These agreements, separate and together, will negatively impact US sovereignty by removing decision-making over public health issues from our government (federal, state, and local) and giving that authority to the Director-General of the WHO. They also expand the definition of “public health” to include pandemics and any issue with the potential to affect global public health, including climate change, immigration, and gun violence, all guided by the policy of equity.
Both the Biden administration and the WHO refuse to characterize either of them as “treaties” to circumvent the U.S. ratification process. However, according to the Congressional Research Service, for purposes of international law, both are treaties.[i]
If Congress does not act now to slow down the process and demand Senate action, the United States will be bound by these documents this year. Because of the time-sensitive nature of the process, we implore you to include these House-passed provisions (H.R. 4665 §7048 (k)(l)) in the final appropriations bill to protect the sovereignty and medical freedom of the United States and its citizens.
Respectfully,
Name, Title and Organization
[i] https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/2022-06-22_IF12139_1b82a7b4554a5dfbbf8981b345ee175d0516c28d.pdf