LIVE 3 PM ET: Press Conference on Surrender of US Sovereignty to the World Health Organization

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) will lead a press conference on Wednesday at 3 p.m. to express strong opposition to efforts now underway by the Biden Administration, Chinese Communist Party, and the World Economic Forum that would surrender U.S. sovereignty to the unaccountable bureaucrats at the World Health Organization.

WHO: Norman will be joined by Reps. Brian Babin (R-Texas), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Chris Stewart (R-Utah), and Thomas Tiffany (R-Wis.). Additional members are possible. Also participating will be representatives from the Sovereignty Coalition.

WHERE: U.S. Capitol House Triangle, Washington, D.C.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 17, 2023, starting at 3:00 p.m.

BACKGROUND:

The International Health Regulations (IHR) were adopted in 2005 by 194 member nations of the World Health Organization (WHO). With the consent of a member nation, these regulations permit the WHO to declare a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” if the WHO determines an infectious disease outbreak has occurred in that nation.

On Jan. 18, 2022, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services proposed amendments to the IHR which, in part, would enable the WHO Director-General to declare a public health emergency in any member nation, even over the objections of that nation. This will grant new unilateral authority to Director-General Tedros to declare a public health crisis in the United States or other sovereign nations, without any consultation.

Furthermore, the proposed IHR amendments also cede control to WHO “regional directors,” who would be delegated the authority to declare these types of emergencies, and enable the WHO Director-General to unilaterally issue an “Intermediate Public Health Alert.”

The Biden administration’s proposal to surrender U.S. sovereignty to the WHO is an egregious mistake that will lead to less accountability and more misconduct by this problematic United Nations agency. Rep. Norman recently led a letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) concerning this issue.