Defending American Sovereignty in Global Pandemics Act
- Bill Number
- S. 92
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-14: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S140)
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-27T14:12:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Defending American Sovereignty in Global Pandemics Act," aims to protect U.S. sovereignty by ensuring that any international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response through the World Health Organization (WHO) requires formal Senate ratification as a treaty. It also seeks to withhold U.S. funding to the WHO until such ratification occurs, preventing the executive branch from independently committing the U.S. to these agreements.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The Act is named the "Defending American Sovereignty in Global Pandemics Act."
- Prohibition on Joining Agreements: The U.S. cannot become a party to any WHO convention, agreement, or international instrument related to strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response unless it is formalized as a treaty under Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution (which requires the President to negotiate treaties with the "advice and consent" of two-thirds of the Senate).
- Funding Suspension: Starting from the effective date of any such WHO agreement, the U.S. government is barred from obligating or spending funds for the WHO until the Senate approves a resolution of ratification for that agreement.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill introduces a mandatory treaty process for WHO pandemic-related agreements, overriding potential use of executive agreements (non-binding pacts made by the President without Senate approval).
- It imposes a new funding restriction specifically tied to unratified WHO agreements, which could alter how U.S. contributions to international health organizations are managed under existing foreign aid and appropriations laws.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: U.S. agencies like the Department of State and Department of Health and Human Services, which handle WHO funding and coordination, would face immediate funding halts, potentially disrupting operations, programs, and U.S. participation in global health initiatives.
- Citizens: Indirect effects could include reduced U.S. influence in international pandemic responses, potentially affecting access to global health resources or information during outbreaks; however, it prioritizes domestic control over international commitments.
- International Relations: The bill could strain U.S.-WHO relations by suspending financial support (the U.S. is a major WHO funder), signaling distrust in multilateral health agreements and possibly encouraging other nations to proceed without U.S. involvement, which might weaken global pandemic preparedness efforts.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Senate and Congress: Gains explicit authority over WHO agreements, empowering lawmakers in foreign policy decisions.
- Executive Branch (President and Agencies): Limited in independently entering international health pacts, requiring Senate involvement for commitments.
- World Health Organization: Faces potential loss of U.S. funding, impacting its budget and programs for pandemic response.
- U.S. Citizens and Health Advocates: Affected through changes in global health cooperation, with implications for national security, public health, and sovereignty concerns.
- International Partners: Other WHO member states may experience delays or gaps in collaborative efforts on pandemics.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: Reinforces the treaty clause of the Constitution, preventing the executive from using less formal mechanisms to bind the U.S. internationally, which could set a precedent for scrutinizing other executive agreements in foreign affairs.
- Political: Introduced by a group of Republican senators, it reflects debates over U.S. autonomy versus global cooperation, particularly post-COVID-19 criticisms of the WHO; if enacted, it could influence broader U.S. policy on international organizations by emphasizing congressional oversight.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (15)
Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-14: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S140)
- 2025-01-14: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Defending American Sovereignty in Global Pandemics Act — issued 2025-01-14 — PDF (2 pages)