Congressman Seeks Senate Approval for WHO Pandemic Agreement

Representative Tom Tiffany (R-WI) has reintroduced a bill asserting that any pandemic agreement made by the World Health Organization (WHO) should require Senate approval. This comes with the backing of nine colleagues in the House of Representatives.

The “Whole Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Recognition Act” initially emerged in 2023 and received bipartisan support when it passed the House in September 2024. The latest version acknowledges that the WHO Pandemic Accord is no longer just a proposal but, rather, an officially approved international legal framework, having received approval from the World Health Assembly in May.

The text of the bill points out a significant public skepticism toward the WHO, citing concerns over its leadership and political influences from certain member countries like China. It emphasizes that Congress prefers any agreements on pandemic response to be ratified as treaties requiring a two-thirds majority in the Senate.

With public trust waning, the bill asserts that any new agreements by the WHO that fail to secure the necessary support should not be enacted by the United States.

Tiffany is joined by Representatives Michael Cloud (R-TX), Eli Crane (R-AZ), and others in making this case.

During the recent World Health Assembly in May, the WHO finalized an agreement that dictates how countries should handle future pandemics. This was, however, quite controversial from its inception in early 2021, with debates regarding legal terminology even among its drafters. WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus heralded the document as the “Pandemic Accord.”

The agreement calls for countries to enhance the sharing of technology pertinent to the prevention and treatment of diseases tied to pandemics, addressing various UN goals, including equity and climate change.

The U.S. did not take part in the final drafting of this agreement, primarily due to the withdrawal initiated by President Trump during his second term. However, under President Biden, the U.S. reengaged with the WHO and participated in conversations about the treaty. Pamela Hamamoto, a representative for Biden, stated in 2023 that the administration is “committed to the Pandemic Accord” to bolster global pandemic responses for coming generations.

When questioned in May 2024 about submitting the pandemic agreement to Congress, Secretary of State Antony Blinken sidestepped a direct response, noting that he hadn’t approved the draft at that moment.

This week, Tiffany reiterated to Breitbart News that while the chances of the previous administration’s pandemic agreement being signed are slim, Congress must act to stop any future Democratic leaders from bypassing the Senate’s advice and consent for any similar treaties.

“The bill would necessitate Senate approval before the president can ratify any WHO pandemic treaties, present or future,” Tiffany explained, asserting that this is crucial to maintaining checks and balances.

Tiffany emphasized that we can’t afford to leave open the possibility for future administrations to concede U.S. governance to international entities.

Historically, some presidents have entered into international agreements that impose obligations on the U.S. without seeking Senate approval by claiming these agreements weren’t treaties. The Obama administration, for instance, accepted two major international accords—the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2015 Iran nuclear deal—without Senate ratification, with limited pushback from Congress.

In addition to concerns about overreach, lawmakers are advocating for the “Whole Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act.” This was notably rejected in January 2020, following initial evidence of COVID-19 spread in Wuhan. WHO Director Tedros faced substantial criticism for relying on questionable information from the Chinese Communist Party to regulate travel restrictions during the pandemic.

Moreover, WHO’s investigation into the origins of the coronavirus drew controversy. A report produced in 2021, which was limited due to restrictions imposed by the Chinese government, found no proof of natural transmission, though it minimized laboratory leak theories. Tedros himself later remarked that the investigation was “not extensive enough.”

After the pandemic agreement’s approval in May, a member of China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Agency praised the country’s involvement in drafting the agreement, stating it was aligned with Xi Jinping’s vision of a global health community.

Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI) commented that the WHO’s handling of the pandemic has been lacking, indicating it spread misinformation at China’s behest. He emphasized that withdrawing U.S. membership from WHO and forgoing the recent treaty was the appropriate action taken by the Trump administration.

Moolenaar concluded that the legislation is essential in preventing any future president from unilaterally aligning the U.S. with potentially flawed international health governance.

Tiffany also voiced concerns regarding the WHO, stating that it cannot be trusted in matters that affect U.S. pandemic policy.