Barr’s resolution establishes select committee to investigate China’s role in pandemic

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) on April 17 unveiled a resolution to establish a bicameral, bipartisan joint select committee to investigate the origins of and China’s handling of COVID-19.

“The Chinese Communist Party put us all at risk and Americans deserve answers to basic questions about the origins of this pandemic and China’s deceptive and destructive behavior,” Rep. Barr said. “It’s time for Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities, expose the truth and hold China accountable.”

Rep. Barr sponsored House Concurrent Resolution 97, which would establish in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives a joint select committee to be known as the Joint Select Committee on the Events and Activities Surrounding China’s Handling of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, according to the text of the resolution.

The committee would consist of 20 members of Congress, 10 from the House and 10 from the Senate, led by two co-chairs, one from each chamber, according to a summary of the resolution provided by Rep. Barr’s office.

The committee would be tasked with investigating and issuing a report to both chambers on several issues, including the origins and causes of the coronavirus; China’s suspected suppression of information and subsequent release of misinformation; the Chinese government’s denial of humanitarian assistance by foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, charitable and faith-based organizations; and recommendations to improve and secure the United States’ access to critical medical supplies and pharmaceutical components in the global supply chain, among others, according to the summary.

“Thousands of Americans have been killed by the COVID-19 virus, our economy has been subject to a government-imposed shutdown and American life has been turned upside down in every way because of this pandemic,” Rep. Barr said. “China lied from the very beginning about this virus. They covered up the origins and severity of the disease, they underreported their initial cases, they manipulated the World Health Organization to spread misinformation about person-to-person transmission, and they embarked on an elaborate scheme to hoard personal protective equipment and weaponize the global supply chain of critical medical and pharmaceutical supplies against the international community, including the United States.”

The committee, which would have subpoena power, access to legislative staff and be able to use documents from other relevant committees to conduct a full and complete investigation, would terminate after issuing a final report.