A resolution condemning the Chinese government’s response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak, including China’s censorship of doctors and journalists during the early days of the outbreak and its refusal to accept assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was filed in the U.S. House by Indiana Congressman Jim Bank.
The resolution also calls for China to publicly state that there is no evidence that COVID-19 originated from outside China and the World Health Organization to retract misleading statements of support for China’s response to COVID-19.
Mississippi Congressmen Steven Palazzo (MS-4), Trent Kelly (MS-1), and Michael Guest (MS-3) are listed among the 53 cosponsors of H. Res 907. Two Democrats have joined in the resolution as well – Rep. Seth Moulton (MA) and Rep. Mike Rogers (AL). Mississippi Democrat Congressman Bennie Thompson (MS-2) is not listed as a cosponsor.
“At the end of the day, we all know the coronavirus originated in China, and if the Chinese government had clearly communicated the global threat stemming from their country, lives around the world could have been saved,” Congressman Palazzo said in a statement. “We must hold China accountable for their refusal to cooperate with international health authorities in the midst of a pandemic.”
Congressman Guest has also stated his support for President Donald Trump’s withholding of funding from the WHO, calling on an investigation into the WHO’s missteps in the pandemic response.
“I cosponsored legislation to withhold WHO funding and I stand with President Trump to hold this organization accountable for their mismanagement of the coronavirus response,” Congressman Guest said in a tweet. “I also called for an investigation into the WHO’s missteps in the COVID-19 response.”
I cosponsored legislation to withhold WHO funding & I stand w/ President Trump to hold this organization accountable for their mismanagement of the coronavirus response. I also called for an investigation into the WHO’s missteps in the COVID-19 response.https://t.co/FTCSR9HIRb
— Congressman Michael Guest (@RepMichaelGuest) April 15, 2020
