Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HR9

Introduced
1/9/23  

Caption

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that China is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic and must be held financially liable for $16,000,000,000,000.

Impact

The resolution suggests that China’s responsibility for the pandemic is not just moral or political but also has significant financial implications. It advocates for reimbursement for the economic losses accrued as a result of the pandemic, which affected countless individuals and families across America. The implication here is that the U.S. government could pursue not only diplomatic but also legal avenues to seek accountability for the actions taken by the Chinese government during the early days of the outbreak.

Summary

HR9 is a resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that China is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic and must be held financially liable for an amount estimated at $16 trillion. The resolution outlines the timeline of events, including the virus's detection in Wuhan and the subsequent actions attributed to the Chinese Communist Party, such as covering up critical information and disseminating inaccurate statistics about the pandemic. This narrative sets the stage for an argument that China’s actions facilitated the global spread of COVID-19, inflicting severe economic damage worldwide, particularly on the United States.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HR9 stem from the broader dialogue on international relations, accountability, and the economic effects of the pandemic on the United States. Critics may argue about the feasibility of holding a state accountable for a global health crisis and the implications of such a financial demand on diplomatic relations. Additionally, contrasting views regarding how to manage future pandemics and the role of global cooperation in public health might arise, especially if punitive measures are suggested rather than collaborative actions aimed at preventing future pandemics.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HR186

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the People's Republic of China should be held accountable for its handling of COVID-19.

US HR339

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy is the most viable approach to energy policy.

US HR352

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the importance of a unified transatlantic role in deterring the Chinese Communist Party from disrupting the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

US HR697

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives relating to the Communist Party of China's "Made In China 2025" Plan and publicly-known malign Communist Party of China's actions supporting the goals of its "Made in China 2025" plan.

US HR378

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives supporting the Federal workforce.

US HR45

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that New York State's Concealed Carry Improvement Act is unconstitutional.

US HR332

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on Ukrainian victory.

US HR322

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on Ukrainian victory.

US HB229

World Deserves To Know Act This bill requires sanctions on certain members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and officials of Chinese health agencies. It also addresses related issues. The President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on any foreign person who is a CCP official and who is knowingly responsible for or complicit in (1) the disappearances of whistleblowers and citizen journalists in China relating to COVID-19, or (2) limiting free speech and academic freedom in China relating to COVID-19. The President must also impose such sanctions on specified individuals who have leadership positions in China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention and China's National Health Commission (NHC). The authority to impose such sanctions shall end when the President certifies to Congress that an independent and unimpeded investigation into the potential origin of COVID-19 from the Wuhan Institute of Virology has taken place. The bill also bars federal funds and certain federal student assistance from going to institutions of higher education that enter into a contract with any element or China-based affiliate of the NHC. Federal funding to the National Academy of Sciences may not be used to enter into a contract with any element or China-based affiliate of the NHC. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress a review of all funds that the National Institutes of Health have made available to the NHC since FY2010. This report must also be publicly available.

US HR39

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that illicit fentanyl-related substances are a weapon of mass destruction and should be classified as such.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.