Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) will be chairing a congressional hearing on the Biden administration’s “push to enter an international pandemic treaty that could cede American sovereignty to the World Health Organization (WHO).” The subcommittee is concerned with global health and human rights organizations. Last May concerns were first raised when the White House offered amendments to the WHO’s international regulations. The Biden amendment would strike the current requirement for the WHO to “consult with and attempt to obtain verification from the State Party in whose territory the event is allegedly occurring in.” Therefore, it would grant new unilateral authority to the director-general of the WHO to declare a public health crisis in the U.S., or other sovereign nations, without first consulting with the U.S. or any other member state.
