Washington, D.C.— U.S. Representative Andy Barr (KY-06) is reintroducing legislation to create a bicameral, bipartisan, Congressional Joint Select Committee (JSC) to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 virus that has killed over 600,000 Americans. In April of 2020, Rep. Barr became one of the first Members of Congress to introduce legislation investigate the origins of COVID-19.
Rep. Barr’s proposed committee would be comprised of 20 members of Congress, 10 from the House and 10 from the Senate, led by two Co-Chairs, one from each Chamber. The committee will have subpoena power, access to legislative staff, bring on experts and consultants, and be able to use documents from other relevant committees to conduct a full and complete investigation. The committee would report on the following issues and terminate after its final report:
- The origins and causes of COVID-19, including evidence the virus originated in the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab, as well as the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) response to the outbreak.
- CCP suppression of information and perpetuation of misinformation and conspiracy theories regarding the COVID-19—including blaming the United States Military for its spread.
- CCP denial of humanitarian assistance by foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, charitable and faith-based organizations.
- The CCP’s actions to influence the World Health Organization’s response to the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
- The CCP’s efforts to manipulate and weaponize the global supply chain.
- Recommendations to improve and secure the United States’ access to critical medical supplies and pharmaceutical components in the global supply chain.
“Over one year and 600,000 tragic American deaths later, we still don’t know the origins of the COVID-19 virus. That is why Congress needs to establish a bicameral, bipartisan investigation that will gain the trust and confidence of the American people to deliver the truth about COVID-19,” said Representative Barr, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “No more delays and no more partisan inquiries.”
Rep. Barr’s legislation comes on the heels of a bombshell report from CNN that U.S. President Joe Biden shutdown a U.S. State Department investigation into the origins of COVID-19 that began under former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Administration last year.
Additionally, House Democrats backed out of the House China Task Force that Democrats and Republicans agreed to create last year, as reported by Josh Rogin of the Washington Post. Rep. Barr was a key leader on the CTF, which issued its final report in October of 2020.