| WASHINGTON, DC – As the Biden administration is setting the stage to hand control of America’s health care system and U.S. national sovereignty over to the World Health Organization (WHO) next week, 24 Republican governors sent a letter today to Joe Biden to state their united opposition to two amendments to the existing International Health Regulations (IHRs) and Pandemic Agreement (Treaty) currently under negotiation that would grant the WHO unprecedented and unconstitutional powers over United States citizens. The 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) will take place beginning from May 27 to June 1 in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHA is the WHO’s decision-making body and meets annually to plan its goals and design policies for its 194 member nations. The Biden administration plans to bypass the U.S. Senate requirement for a 2/3 vote on a treaty by unilaterally signing the WHO’s proposed Pandemic Agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations that will drastically expand the WHO’s global authority. |
| In the letter the governors state, “These proposed accords aim to significantly alter the amendments to the WHO’s existing International Health Regulations (IHRs) and introduce a new ‘Pandemic Agreement’ (Treaty) that would undermine national sovereignty, infringe upon states’ rights, and jeopardize constitutionally guaranteed freedoms The objective of these instruments is to empower the WHO, particularly its uncontrollable Director-General, with the authority to restrict the rights of U.S. citizens, including freedoms such as speech, privacy, travel, choice of medical care, and informed consent, thus violating our Constitution’s core principles. If adopted, these agreements would seek to elevate the WHO from an advisory body to a global authority in public health. Under the proposed amendments and treaty, the WHO’s Director-General would supposedly gain unilateral power to declare a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC) in member nations, extending beyond pandemics to include a range of perceived emergencies.” The governors continue, “Furthermore, these instruments would erode sovereignty by granting the WHO’s Director-General the authority to dictate responses to a declared PHEIC, stripping elected representatives of their role in setting public health policies and compelling citizens to comply with WHO directives, potentially including mandates regarding medical treatments. Additional concerns arise regarding the establishment of a global surveillance infrastructure and requirements for member states to censor speech related to public health, potentially facilitating the proliferation of biological weapons. As governors, we affirm that public health policy is a matter reserved for the states, not the federal government, and certainly not international bodies like the WHO. We are committed to resisting any attempts to transfer authority to the WHO over public policy affecting our citizens or any efforts by the WHO to assert such authority over them.” The governors that signed the letter include: Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Mike Dunleavy (AK), Governor Sarah Sanders (AR), Governor Ron DeSantis (FL), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Brad Little (ID), Governor Eric Holcomb (IN), Governor Kim Reynolds (IA), Governor Jeff Landry (LA), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Greg Gianforte (MT), Governor Jim Pillen (NE), Governor Joe Lombardo (NV), Governor Chris Sununu (NH), Governor Doug Burgum (ND), Governor Kevin Stitt (OK), Governor Henry McMaster (SC), Governor Kristi Noem (SD), Governor Bill Lee (TN), Governor Greg Abbott (TX), Governor Spencer Cox (UT), Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA), Governor Jim Justice (WV), and Governor Mark Gordon (WY). Previously, 22 state Attorneys Generals sent a letter to Biden opposing the WHO’s proposed International Health Regulations and the new Pandemic Treaty stating that “we will resist any attempt to enable the WHO to directly or indirectly set public policy for our citizens.” In addition, 49 Republican U.S. Senators also sent a letter to Joe Biden calling on his administration to “withdraw” its support for two international agreements that would cede the nation’s sovereignty during public health emergencies to the WHO. The senators called the proposed plan “unacceptable.” The United Kingdom, along with 15 other nations, including Members of Parliament from Australia and Israel, have publicly opposed the WHO because of concerns on national sovereignty. Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “The Republican governors have joined the growing chorus of voices to stop Joe Biden’s unconstitutional plans to unilaterally place America under the global authority of the World Health Organization. We cannot hand the sovereignty of this nation over to a foreign agency of the United Nations.” |
