No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act
No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act would require that any convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response that is reached by the World Health Assembly (WHA) must be submitted for United States Senate ratification as a treaty. The bill focuses on instruments developed through the World Health Organization (WHO) process, particularly those emerging from the International Negotiating Body (INB) established by the WHA, and would deem any final instrument produced by that process to be a treaty subject to Senate advice and consent (a two-thirds vote). The underlying intent is to ensure significant Senate involvement and oversight before the United States commits itself to any global pandemic framework. The bill’s findings and sense of the Senate express strong skepticism about WHO governance and emphasize the preference that such agreements be treated as treaties rather than non-treaty executive arrangements. If enacted, the bill would limit the U.S. government’s ability to participate in or implement a WHA-drafted pandemic pact unless the Senate provides two-thirds ratification. It also frames the issue as a constitutional concern, asserting that any broad international instrument formed under INB guidance should be treated as a treaty rather than an executive agreement. This could slow or block U.S. participation in a global pandemic framework unless there is substantial Senate support.
Key Points
- 1Short title: The act is cited as the “No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act.”
- 2Senate ratification requirement: Any convention, agreement, or international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response reached by the World Health Assembly must be treated as a treaty and subjected to the Senate’s advice and consent (two-thirds vote) to be binding on the United States.
- 3Focus on WHO INB process: The bill targets instruments produced through the WHO’s International Negotiating Body (INB) and the WHA’s final reports or recommendations, deeming them treaties for purposes of U.S. constitutional requirements.
- 4Foundational statements: The findings recount past U.S. concerns with the WHO, the history of INB negotiations, and recent actions surrounding U.S. engagement with or withdrawal from WHO, providing context for why Senate involvement is being prioritized.
- 5Sense of the Senate: The legislation expresses that public distrust exists regarding WHO leadership and independence; it argues for Senate advice and consent for such agreements and warns against implementing any instrument that cannot secure a two-thirds approval.