OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The House Freedom Caucus has issued a stern letter to President Joe Biden, demanding that he “halt … efforts to empower the World Health Organization (WHO)” and return to former President Donald Trump’s plan to withdraw from the group.
“The House Freedom Caucus urges you to halt your efforts to empower the World Health Organization (WHO) and instead either immediately resume President Trump’s withdrawal from the body or, at the very least, push serious reforms to aggressively correct the organization’s rampant corruption and ineffectual leadership,” the caucus said on Monday.
“As the 75th World Health Assembly meets in Geneva this week, your administration is expected to propose amendments to the WHO International Health Regulations, the set of rules governing responses by the agency and its member states to international public health emergencies.
“Reportedly aimed at targeting China’s manipulation and obstruction of WHO throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, these amendments in fact empower the same individual most responsible for enabling that nation’s malfeasance: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Not only did you fail to propose an alternative candidate to Dr. Tedros, who is expected to be elected to a second term without opposition this week, you are now attempting to hand him more control.
“We call on you to instead use the 75th World Health Assembly as an opportunity to demand a radical course correction and change in leadership,” the Caucus said.
“Furthermore, as efforts continue by WHO Member States to negotiate a ‘global pandemic treaty,’ we demand that you provide the American people with total transparency and respect for our nation’s sovereignty,” it said. “Under no circumstances should you cede our government’s operational control in a public health emergency to an international body.”
“In the event any agreement is reached on a ‘global pandemic treaty, we expect you to fully comply with Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which clearly states that ‘the President shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur,’” it said.
BREAKING: @FreedomCaucus demands the Biden Admin halt efforts to empower the mismanaged and corrupt World Health Organization.
Full letter⬇️ pic.twitter.com/c0rYkrpK2T
— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) May 23, 2022
Some of the members of the Freedom Caucus as well as Senators and Doctors responded to the proposed treaty on Twitter.
“The WHO Pandemic Treaty MUST be stopped. We cannot allow our national sovereignty to be SURRENDERED to America Last UN bureaucrats. Say NO to the Pandemic Treaty!!” Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson said.
The WHO Pandemic Treaty MUST be stopped. We cannot allow our national sovereignty to be SURRENDERED to America Last UN bureaucrats. Say NO to the Pandemic Treaty!!
— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) May 23, 2022
“President Trump was right to withdraw the US from the corrupt, China-controlled World Health Organization. The Biden Admin is selling us out to the Chinese Communist Party!” Rep. Mary Miller said.
President Trump was right to withdraw the US from the corrupt, China-controlled World Health Organization. The Biden Admin is selling us out to the Chinese Communist Party! https://t.co/TSL9nj0gso
— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) May 23, 2022
“While we’re at it, let’s stop US funding for the WHO,” Rep. Bill Posey said.
🚨Breaking: @FreedomCaucus demands President Biden not allow @WHO to dictate U.S. Public Health policy.
While we're at it, let's stop US funding for the WHO. https://t.co/7qKA8dqJXw
— Bill Posey (@congbillposey) May 23, 2022
“Biden appears intent on casting aside US sovereignty in favor of the immeasurably corrupt and China-appeasing World Health Organization. We cannot let this happen! Thanks to the @freedomcaucus for stepping up,” the Nevada Freedom Caucus said.
Biden appears intent on casting aside US sovereignty in favor of the immeasurably corrupt and China-appeasing World Health Organization.
We cannot let this happen! Thanks to the @freedomcaucus for stepping up.
RT!!! https://t.co/Om6EzJ3DgW
— 🇺🇲 Nevada Freedom Caucus 🇺🇲 (@NevadaFreedom) May 23, 2022
“We must never allow Biden to use a ‘Pandemic Treaty’ to give control over American public health decisions to the corrupt @WHO,” Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said.
We must never allow Biden to use a “Pandemic Treaty” to give control over American public health decisions to the corrupt @WHO
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) May 21, 2022
“We must stop the WHO ‘pandemic treaty’ and reject the false song of globalism. Let’s put America, our sovereignty, and our interest first instead of a cabal trying to take everything away from us,” Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar said.
We must stop the WHO 'pandemic treaty' and reject the false song of globalism.
Let's put America, our sovereignty, and our interest first instead of a cabal trying to take everything away from us.
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) May 20, 2022
“The new ‘Pandemic Treaty’ seeks to make WHO the supreme authority over all international health matters. It is like making Bernie Madoff the head of Federal Reserve,” Dr. Eli David said.
The new "Pandemic Treaty" seeks to make WHO the supreme authority over all international health matters.
It is like making Bernie Madoff the head of Federal Reserve.
— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) May 17, 2022
With the WHO meeting next week about this, people are telling CBC to have me back on. I'd rather they ask the PM on & ask why he is signing a pandemic treaty before reviewing our own COVID response. Sign my petition demanding Canada not join this treaty. https://t.co/u2outJNNbm https://t.co/Xpc8V5X32a pic.twitter.com/XqeYKe1mUi
— Dr. Leslyn Lewis (@LeslynLewis) May 17, 2022
“With the WHO meeting next week about this, people are telling CBC to have me back on. I’d rather they ask the PM on & ask why he is signing a pandemic treaty before reviewing our own COVID response. Sign my petition demanding Canada not join this treaty,” Dr. Leslyn Lewis said.
