Republican senators, led by Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, are calling on President Biden to reject agreements that would expand the World Health Organization’s (WHO) authority in the case of a global pandemic.
In a letter sent to Biden on May 19, 2022, Johnson and all 48 other Republican senators urged the president to reject any pandemic-related treaties, conventions, or agreements that are being considered at the 77th World Health Assembly, which is taking place from May 27 to June 1.
The Republican senators emphasized that any such agreement would be considered a treaty, which under Article I Section 2 of the Constitution requires the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senate.
They stressed that the U.S. “cannot afford to ignore this latest WHO inability to perform its most basic function” and must insist on comprehensive WHO reforms before even considering any amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) or any new pandemic-related treaty that would increase WHO authority.
The senators also noted that the origin of the COVID-19 virus is still unclear, as Beijing continues to block a legitimate independent investigation.
Biden and his administration have expressed support for the concept of a global agreement between countries to more effectively combat future pandemics, but it’s not clear whether he supports the WHO’s new pandemic agreement.
The White House and WHO did not immediately provide comment to Fox News Digital.
Johnson and the other Republican senators, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota, Republican conference Chairman John Barrasso of Wyoming, and National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Steve Daines of Montana, said any potential support from the Biden administration for the international agreement would be “unacceptable.”
Johnson has been a fierce critic of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical adviser to the president, and of the precautions put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.
The Wisconsin senator has also criticized the pharmaceutical industry and vaccinations for the virus that were mandated across the country, as well as advocating for those who said they suffered injuries from the shots.
