Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin has spearheaded a call from all 48 Republican senators urging President Biden to reject any agreements that would expand the authority of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the event of a global pandemic. The senators emphasized that such agreements would be considered treaties, requiring the approval of two-thirds of the Senate under the Constitution.
The call comes ahead of the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA), where international agreements related to pandemics are set to be discussed. The WHA serves as the decision-making body of the WHO, bringing together 194 member states to establish goals and policies.
The Republican senators expressed concerns over the latest draft of the WHO's new pandemic response treaty, describing it as 'dead on arrival.' They criticized the focus on mandated resource and technology transfers, intellectual property rights, free speech infringements, and increased WHO authority.
The senators highlighted the need for comprehensive reforms within the WHO before considering any new agreements. They also pointed out the lack of clarity on the origin of the COVID-19 virus, attributing it to Beijing's obstruction of an independent investigation.
While the Biden administration has pledged to enhance global coordination in pandemic response, officials have raised concerns about elements of the WHO's proposed treaty, particularly regarding the protection of pharmaceutical patents.
The Republican senators, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and others, stated that any support from the Biden administration for the international agreement would be deemed 'unacceptable.'
Senator Johnson, known for his criticism of Dr. Anthony Fauci and pandemic precautions, has also voiced opposition to vaccine mandates and advocated for individuals claiming vaccine-related injuries.
