On the first day of his term, President Donald Trump (R) signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). Following this announcement, Representatives Greg Steube (R-FL) and Jodey Arrington (R-TX) introduced the WHO is Accountable Act, a bill intending to prevent future Presidents from rejoining the WHO without any evidence of improved conditions.
The WHO is not necessarily known as a transparent, honest organization by all. For instance, the House Oversight Committee found in December that the WHO "caved to political pressure from the Chinese Communist Party" during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore should House Budget Chairman Arrington's bill become law, if the next President wanted to rejoin the WHO, it would require Congressional approval. Without Congressional approval, the WHO would need to meet the following standards:
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- WHO isn’t involved in a coverup of the CCP’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- WHO isn’t under the control or significant malign influence of the CCP.
- WHO puts in mechanisms to increase transparency and accountability in its operations to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.
- WHO adopts meaningful reforms to ensure humanitarian assistance isn’t politicized and provided to those with the most need.
- WHO grants observer status to Taiwan.
- No funds are diverted to corrupt regimes like Iran and North Korea.
Rep. Steube, the bill's co-sponsor, shared that the WHO promulgates radical left-wing ideology for the Chinese Communist Party worldwide.
“The WHO is a globalist, CCP run entity that disproportionally charges the US compared to other countries and pushes their CCP and progressive ideology on the American people and the world,” said Rep. Steube.
Steube continued, “Their handling of Covid is just one example. This ends now. I applaud President Trump who had the courage to do what Congress hasn’t, ensuring that American taxpayer dollars are spent on the needs of the US not China. The WHO is Accountable Act will support President Trump’s plans to ensure the U.S. stays out of this corrupt organization unless major reforms take place.”
Moreover, Chairman Arrington stated that the WHO is "CCP-controlled," eluding to the notion that significant change is needed from the organization.
“President Trump was right to pull the United States out of the CCP-controlled World Health Organization,” said Chairman Arrington. “Now, Congress must take action to ensure future Presidents can’t foolishly rejoin this corrupt organization without major reforms. I have long said that I will fight against any attempt to surrender our sovereignty and cede regulatory power over the United States through a treaty, agreement, or arrangement."
Furthermore, Rep. Arrington said this bill plays a role in prolonging President Trump's America First agenda after his time in office.
"The World Health Organization aided and abetted China in covering up their incompetence with COVID-19, all while spending American tax dollars promulgating woke and radical ideology. This is why I’m proud to lead my colleagues in ensuring President Trump’s America First agenda endures," concluded Arrington.
With a Republican-controlled House and Senate, this bill could find its way to Trump's desk.
