Finally, Congress has started to address the threat posed by the World Health Organization. On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR1425, known as the No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act. Authored by Representative Thomas Tiffany from Wisconsin, the bill states:
“To require any convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response reached by the World Health Assembly to be subject to Senate ratification.”
Three amendments were added to the bill, two of which provide further clarification in the preface of the bill about the constitutional requirements and legislative process of all treaty agreements. Representative Virginia Foxx’s amendment clarifies that no treaty agreement will have the force or effect in U.S. law until ratified by the Senate. Representative Thomas Massie’s amendment emphasizes that for any treaty to have legal bearing on an American citizen, the provision must be passed by both chambers of Congress, the House and Senate, then signed by the President.
Originally introduced in March 2023, HR1425 did not move again until July 2024 when it was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, subsequently receiving a floor vote on September 11. As any legislation removing American support completely from the WHO (like HR79) is currently inconceivable, HR1425 began to move on the congressional calendar when the nation’s focus was on bird flu and was perhaps a plucky attempt to tackle the possibility at the time that the WHO would declare another public health emergency. Now the bill is riding the momentum gained with the national conversation surrounding health and chronic disease. All this points to the undeniable influence the health freedom voting bloc has on current events.
Which brings us to our request…
Please urge your senators to protect Americans and the Constitution that governs us against illegal international agreements – including, but not limited to, the pandemic treaty. HR1426 lacks one critical clarification: The amendments to the WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR) are not a product of the International Negotiating Body (INB) and are therefore not addressed by HR1425. Additionally, looming threats by the United Nations (including the Pact for the Future) are not addressed by HR1425. Before this instrument leaves the Senate, Americans need added clarification.