Marshall-Gillibrand Amendment Calling for Transparency and Further Investigation into COVID Origins Passes Senate

(Washington, D.C., May 26, 2021) – Today, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan AMENDMENT offered by U.S. Senators Roger Marshall M.D. (R-KS) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) calling for a transparent investigation into the COVID-19 outbreak mandated by the World Health Assembly during its current session, which ends on Monday. Additionally, if China continues on its path of cover-up and obfuscation, the Marshall-Gillibrand Amendment demands a full, transparent investigation to include the U.S. and our allies and partners around the world.

Senator Marshall spoke on the Senate floor about the amendment saying, “Over the past year, COVID-19 has spread to all corners of the world killing more than 3 million people in its path, including more than 550,000 Americans. We were originally told it initiated in a fish market or a wet market and that it may have come from a bat that directly infected a human or a pangolin. However, the preponderance of evidence suggests this virus may well have leaked from a lab in Wuhan. With the World Health Assembly meeting this week we must express full support for a full investigation into the outbreak. It’s outrageous that a comprehensive investigation has still not been carried out. If China continues on its path of cover-up, we must begin planning a full investigation, including with partners around the world. It would be utterly irresponsible to suffer through the worst pandemic in a century and not have the origins fully investigated. Our bipartisan amendment will deliver the message that the Chinese must show us the data and be transparent with the world – and if they don’t, we will fight to get to the bottom of this outbreak. I thank Senator Gillibrand for introducing this amendment with me and ask that all Senators join me in approving it.”

“There must be a thorough and transparent investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic—obstruction is completely unacceptable. Our amendment makes clear that the US believes that the previous WHO investigation was flawed, that there must be accountability, and all potential origins of this virus, including a lab leak, must be investigated fully,” said Senator Gillibrand.

The bipartisan Marshall-Gillibrand amendment can be viewed HERE.

You may click HERE or on the image below to watch Senator Marshall’s full remarks.