US Federal 2023-2024 Regular Session

US Federal House Bill HR186

Introduced
2/28/23  

Caption

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.

Impact

If adopted, the resolution would not enact law but would serve as an official statement reflecting the sentiments of the House regarding China's accountability. It emphasizes the need for international scrutiny of China’s actions during the pandemic and could influence U.S. foreign policy toward China, particularly in areas concerning public health and human rights. The resolution suggests that the U.S. and other nations should consider withholding debt payments to China as a form of accountability for the costs incurred due to COVID-19.

Summary

HR186 expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the People’s Republic of China should be held accountable for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution highlights a series of missteps by Chinese authorities, including the delay in informing the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak and the suppression of information regarding the virus. The bill aims to acknowledge the significant impact that China's actions had on the global spread of COVID-19 and the resultant public health crisis.

Contention

The bill references the Chinese government's alleged cover-up of information related to COVID-19, including censoring information on social media and punishing those who attempted to alert others about the disease's outbreak. This portrayal of China has led to contentious debates within the U.S., with some calling the resolution a necessary stance on accountability, while others warn that it may further strain U.S.-China relations. Critics may argue that this approach could affect global cooperation on health issues, while supporters of the bill stress the importance of holding China accountable for its actions.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HR9

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.

US HR687

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that China should no longer be labeled as a "Developing Nation" by the United Nations.

US HR1259

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai detained by the People's Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

US SR677

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai detained by the People's Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

US SR728

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Jimmy Lai, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Ekpar Asat detained by the People's Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jingping.

US HR148

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".

US HR130

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.

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 SB3291

Enhanced COVID-19 Transparency Act of 2025

US SR716

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding critical elements of the United States policy towards the People's Republic of China.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.