Indy Standard

In a recent development, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and the Senate Republican conference have taken a firm stance by sending a letter to President Biden, urging his Administration to withdraw support for two international agreements under consideration at the World Health Assembly (WHA). The agreements in question aim to grant more authority to the World Health Organization (WHO) and potentially weaken United States sovereignty.

The letter emphasizes concerns over the WHO's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, describing it as a failure that caused lasting harm to the country. The senators expressed their reservations about the proposed amendments, stating that some of them would greatly enhance the WHO's health emergency powers, posing a threat to U.S. sovereignty.

The senators highlighted their apprehensions in the letter, stating, “Some of the over 300 proposals for amendments made by member states would substantially increase the WHO’s health emergency powers and constitute intolerable infringements upon U.S. sovereignty.” They also pointed out the detrimental impact of the WHO's pandemic response, noting that it was predictable and had severe consequences for the nation.

Moreover, the senators conveyed their deep concerns about the Biden administration's continued support for these initiatives, urging the President to reconsider his position. They stated, “are deeply concerned that your [the Biden] administration continues to support these initiatives and strongly urge you [President Biden] to change course.”

The letter concluded with a strong message, indicating the senators' firm stance on the matter. They warned, “Should you ignore this advice, we state in the strongest possible terms that we consider any such agreement to be a treaty requiring the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senate under Article II Section 2 of the Constitution.”

Alongside Senator Young, a significant number of Senate Republicans joined in signing the letter, demonstrating a unified front on this issue. The full list of senators who supported the letter can be found in the official document.

This collective action underscores the growing concerns among lawmakers regarding the potential implications of the WHO agreements under consideration. The call to reject these agreements reflects a bipartisan effort to prioritize reforms and protect U.S. interests in the realm of international health governance.