Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB84

Introduced
1/25/23  

Caption

Defund EcoHealth Alliance Act This bill prohibits the award of federal funds to EcoHealth Alliance, Inc (including any subsidiaries or related organizations). This is a nonprofit research organization that studies coronaviruses in bat populations and other environmental health concerns. The Government Accountability Office must also audit federal funds provided to that organization over the past decade. The audit must include the amount of those funds provided by EcoHealth Alliance to China, the Chinese Communist Party, or the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Impact

If enacted, SB84 would directly affect EcoHealth Alliance and potentially limit its ability to conduct research that may contribute to significant scientific understanding of coronaviruses. The bill mandated that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct an audit of all federal funds awarded to the organization over the past ten years, focusing on tracing any funds that may have indirectly supported foreign adversaries, particularly the People's Republic of China and its affiliated organizations.

Summary

Senate Bill 84, titled the 'Defund EcoHealth Alliance Act,' seeks to prohibit any federal funding from being allocated to EcoHealth Alliance, Inc., a nonprofit research organization known for its work studying coronaviruses in bat populations and related environmental health issues. The intent behind the bill is to prevent taxpayer dollars from supporting organizations that may collaborate with foreign entities, particularly those linked to concerns about funding research in labs such as the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Contention

The bill has generated significant debate among legislators concerning issues of transparency, national security, and the ethical implications of funding scientific research. Supporters argue that it is a necessary step to ensure that taxpayer money does not inadvertently support entities linked to countries perceived as adversarial, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics of the bill, however, express concern that cutting funding for EcoHealth could hinder important research in infectious diseases and limit the scientific community's ability to prepare for future pandemics.

Companion Bills

US HB494

Related bill Defund EcoHealth Alliance Act This bill prohibits the award of federal funds to EcoHealth Alliance, Inc (including any subsidiaries or related organizations). This is a nonprofit research organization that studies coronaviruses in bat populations and other environmental health concerns. The Government Accountability Office must also audit federal funds provided to that organization over the past decade. The audit must include the amount of those funds provided by EcoHealth Alliance to China, the Chinese Communist Party, or the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Previously Filed As

US HB494

Defund EcoHealth Alliance Act This bill prohibits the award of federal funds to EcoHealth Alliance, Inc (including any subsidiaries or related organizations). This is a nonprofit research organization that studies coronaviruses in bat populations and other environmental health concerns. The Government Accountability Office must also audit federal funds provided to that organization over the past decade. The audit must include the amount of those funds provided by EcoHealth Alliance to China, the Chinese Communist Party, or the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

US HB3664

To prohibit the availability of Federal funds to the World Health Organization pending the conduct of an investigation relating to the influence over such organization by Chinese Communist Party, and for other purposes.

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 SB75

Lifting Local Communities Act This bill specifies that government entities may not discriminate against religious organizations when awarding federal funds for social services programs (i.e., government programs that provide services for low-income individuals and communities, such as child care, transportation, employment, housing, and meal services). Specifically, religious organizations are eligible to apply for and receive federal funds to provide services for social services programs on the same basis as private, nonreligious organizations. Additionally, government entities may not discriminate against private organizations on the basis of religion when selecting funding recipients. Organizations that receive federal funds for social services programs may not discriminate against individuals on the basis of religion when providing services. If an individual objects to the character or affiliation of a private organization that is providing a service as part of a social services program, government entities must provide the individual with reasonable alternatives. Religious organizations may bring civil actions against entities for violations.

US HB315

No Taxpayer Funded Platform for Chinese Communists Act This bill prohibits using federal funds made available to the U.S. Agency for Global Media to provide an open platform for representatives of the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or any entity owned or controlled by the Chinese government or by the CCP.

US HB69

Freedom to Petition the Government ActThis bill allows outside nonprofit organizations to meet with federal officials in the District of Columbia (DC) on federal property without having to register as businesses in DC. Currently, entities that are formed outside of DC, including nonprofit organizations, must generally register with DC before doing business in DC. Under the bill, outside nonprofit organizations may meet with federal government officials at federally leased or owned buildings in DC without having to register. 

US HB420

Federal Grant Accountability ActThis bill limits the indirect costs that are allowable under federal research awards to institutions of higher education (IHEs). (Generally, indirect costs represent expenses that are not specific to a research project but are needed to maintain the infrastructure and administrative support for federally funded research.)Specifically, the total amount of indirect costs allowable under a federal research award may not exceed the total amount of indirect costs allowable under private research awards. The Office of Management and Budget must determine the average indirect cost rate applicable to private research awards.Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must study and report on (1) the indirect cost rates allowable under federal research awards to IHEs, including awards made by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other such organizations; and (2) the indirect cost rates allowable under private research awards to IHEs.

US HB1168

Protecting Federal Funds from Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act of 2025This bill prohibits a nonprofit entity from receiving federal funds (and denies a tax exemption) unless the entity certifies compliance with certain federal laws (e.g., laws with respect to human trafficking and smuggling).The bill also establishes reporting requirements, including that the Government Accountability Office must annually report to Congress on those nonprofit entities that do not certify their compliance with these laws.Finally, the bill removes the provision of federal law that exempts nonprofit charitable organizations that provide federal public benefits from having to verify the eligibility of program participants.

US HB174

No Federal Funding for Teacher's Unions Act This bill prohibits labor organizations of education professionals from receiving federal funds.

US SB5172

A bill to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to ensure that businesses and organizations that work with vulnerable populations are able to request background checks for their contractors who work with those populations, as well as for individuals that the businesses or organizations license or certify to provide care for those populations.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.