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.
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI) and the harmful conflation of China's "One China Principle" and the United States "One China Policy".
Requesting the attorney general file a lawsuit against the People's Republic of China and related parties to seek damages related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Requesting the attorney general to file a lawsuit against the People's Republic of China and related parties to seek damages related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
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.
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in condemning the Government of the People's Republic of China for its harassment and efforts to intimidate American citizens and other individuals on United States soil with the goal of suppressing speech and narratives the People's Republic of China finds unwelcome.
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that paraprofessionals and education support staff should have fair compensation, benefits, and working conditions.
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States must take urgent, coordinated action to address the national housing crisis through preservation and production of affordable housing.
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that European laws and regulations unfairly and unreasonably burden American speech and innovation.