U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation last week seeking to provide $118.9 million in funding for the organization and strengthen global COVID-19 vaccine efforts.
The funds provided under the Abiding by U.S. Commitments Act would be a continuation of dues the United States owes to WHO and other international organizations of which it is a member. The bill would also demonstrate a Congressional encouragement to participate in global vaccine development efforts for COVID-19, particularly in the case of the international COVAX facility. Additionally, the Secretary of State would be required to pay 2020 assessed dues to international organizations.
“COVID-19 is a global pandemic that requires a coordinated global response, but because of the Trump Administration, the United States has not only lost more of our citizens to this virus than our global peers but is almost entirely absent from international efforts to contain and stop the spread of this virus,” Booker said. “Congress needs to act urgently to ensure that the U.S. keeps its commitments to our international partners like the WHO, so a coordinated global response to COVID-19 saves lives both here at home and abroad.”
The United States has consistently remained the leader in the number of COVID-19 infections for months. Despite this, the White House announced earlier this year that it would begin the process of terminating the U.S. relationship with the WHO, criticizing its ties with China. While opponents charged that this would isolate the United States during a global pandemic and restrict its access to information, the White House declared last week that it would not join 172 countries in a united effort to develop a vaccine due to WHO’s involvement.
“We do not have time to play along with the President’s political stunt to withdraw from vital international organizations like the World Health Organization, which is leading a global effort to find and distribute a vaccine for a disease responsible for the death of more than 190,000 Americans,” Durbin said.
Booker and Durbin were joined on their bill by eight Democratic cosponsors.