With the COVID-19 pandemic’s worst days surely behind us, both citizens and governments alike have come to realize their mistakes in hindsight. Whether that is the effectiveness of vaccines or lockdowns, it feels as though everyone believes that the pandemic could have been handled better. However, Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) is concerned with the fact that perhaps the lesson has not been learned.
The “Gain-of-function” research, is research concerning the transmissibility of viruses (which sometimes encourages intentionally “enhancing” a virus’s ability to spread). This type of research has been thrown into the lineup as one of the possible main contributors of COVID’s effectiveness to prolong itself.
It has been proven that the United States has funded projects such as these in foreign nations, including China. However, Rep. Mast is concerned that the National Institute of Health (NIH) wants to do the same thing.
“While evidence that gain-of-function research may have led to the coronavirus has been labeled as a conspiracy theory by some, there’s no disputing that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded this type of testing at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. And now, there’s new reporting that the NIH wants to continue to send YOUR money to fund dangerous experiments in China. Haven’t they learned?” stated Mast.
He would go on to mention the fact Americans deserve the right to know where their hard-earned cash to.
“There needs to be accountability and oversight for every dollar spent, especially those dollars sent abroad. That’s why I am cosponsoring the Foreign Gain-of-Function Research Prevention Act. There is no reason for taxpayer dollars to be sent to hostile nations, and certainly no reason to be funding this type of research,” said Mast.
With this new bill, Mast looks to not only “hold China accountable,” but also to stop the next one from happening before it begins.
