Tennessee House Bill HJR0820

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/24
• Refer: 1/31/24
• Refer: 3/12/24
• Refer: 3/20/24
• Engrossed: 4/15/24

Caption

A RESOLUTION relative to the World Health Organization.

Impact

The resolution advocates for U.S. representatives and senators from Tennessee to take action to cease federal funding of the WHO. It urges the federal government to reject any new policies or treaties that would expand the WHO's authority or empower authoritarian regimes, thereby underscoring a broader tension between national sovereignty and international governance. By dismissing WHO's role, the resolution seeks to reinforce the position of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a preferable public health entity that answers directly to American citizens and their elected representatives.

Summary

HJR0820 is a resolution introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly concerning the World Health Organization (WHO). The resolution expresses strong disapproval of the WHO, characterizing it as a corrupt organization that has negatively influenced global public health efforts. It highlights specific instances of mismanagement and scandals, notably the alleged complicity of WHO officials during the COVID-19 pandemic in collaboration with the Chinese government to obscure the virus's origin, which the resolution claims exacerbated the global health crisis.

Contention

Debate surrounding HJR0820 reflects wider political divides regarding international organizations and health governance. Supporters argue that the resolution is a necessary stance against what they view as ineffective international bureaucracy; they contend that it prioritizes American interests and public health. Critics, however, may see the resolution as an isolationist approach that might undermine global health collaboration, potentially alienating the U.S. from important international health discussions and coordination efforts, especially in response to future pandemics.