The United States Senate has passed a motion urging lawmakers in the House of Representatives considering H.R. 4521 to retain language introduced by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) prohibiting funding for federal agencies from going to gain-of-function research in China.
The language is part of Paul’s amendment to S.1260, the Senate’s companion bill to H.R. 4521.
Sen. Paul’s office released a triumphant statement on Wednesday:
“Even as Dr. Fauci denies it, there is strong evidence COVID-19 started in a lab in Wuhan,” said Dr. Paul. “But, if we have learned anything from this pandemic, it’s that risky virus-enhancing research – like the type conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, also funded by the U.S. government – is an unnecessary form of science that could lead to the death of millions of people. This vote brings us one step closer to ensuring that this never happens in the future and prohibits taxpayer dollars from being used to fund dangerous and unnecessary research in China. “
You can watch Dr. Paul’s floor remarks HERE.
BACKGROUND:
Dr. Paul’s motion calls for conferees to retain the Paul amendment the Senate adopted by voice vote on May 25, 2021, to S. 1260, the United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021. That amendment would prevent federal taxpayer dollars from being used for gain-of-function research in China.
Dr. Paul’s motion is one of 28 the Senate will vote on today as part of the final step to begin a formal conference committee on H.R. 4521.
Watch Sen. Paul’s speech urging his colleagues to ban taxpayer dollars from going to gain-of-function research in China:
This article originally appeared in American Liberty New. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of The Republican Standard. Republished with permission.