Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Risch, Sens. Grassley, Shaheen Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Illicit Drug Precursors
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in introducing bipartisan legislation to enhance global precursor chemical destruction efforts. The Destruction Initiative for Stored Precursors Overseas and Safe Enforcement (DISPOSE) Act would facilitate U.S. collaboration
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in introducing bipartisan legislation to enhance global precursor chemical destruction efforts. The Destruction Initiative for Stored Precursors Overseas and Safe Enforcement (DISPOSE) Act would facilitate U.S. collaborationwith partner countries, including Mexico, Colombia and Peru, to ensure seized precursor chemicals are destroyed.
"Illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids pose an unprecedented threat to American families. Far too many people in America know the heartache associated with the loss of life related to these deadly substances," said Risch. "Addressing this threat requires effective cooperation with international partners. This legislation will deepen cooperation with Mexico and other countries in the Western Hemisphere to verifiably destroy seized precursor chemicals that would have otherwise being used to manufacture illicit drugs claiming so many American lives."
"Deadly drugs find their way into our country every day, leaving loved ones and entire communities grieving," said Grassley. "To stop this tragedy, we need to begin at the source. Our bill would target the first link in the illicit drug supply chain in order to cut off this poisonous pipeline. By working with global partners to root out precursor chemicals, we can help stop the flow of drugs and save lives."
"I'm proud to join Senator Grassley in introducing this bill that would facilitate United States engagement with our partners abroad to destroy seized drugs and prevent them from making it to our borders," said Shaheen. "This legislation would work to ensure that these dangerous drugs are not diverted back into the illicit drug supply chain and are destroyed in environmentally responsible ways."
Background:
Precursor chemicals form the basis of illicit drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Currently, the United States has a limited view of how much - or how little - others nations are doing to destroy seized precursor chemicals. For instance, at a Senate Drug Caucus hearing in October, a Homeland Security Investigations witness testified that the Mexican government does not provide proof to the United States that it destroys the precursors they seize. Recent reports also revealed that Mexico altered its data reporting to artificially inflate the number of precursor seizures made by the Mexican government.
The DISPOSE Act would increase cooperation with global partners by directing the State Department, in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Defense, to create the Precursor Chemical Destruction Initiative. The program would establish benchmarks and reporting requirements for partner countries to improve and increase rates of precursor seizure and destruction. To ensure successful implementation and transparency across branches of government, the legislation also requires a report to Congress on the results of the program.
Senate Environment Committee Chairman Carper Calls for Safe, Clean Nuclear Energy, Support of Chris Hanson During NRC Nomination Hearing
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Tom Carper, D-Delaware, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release on April 17, 2024:
U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today led a hearing to consider the nomination of Christopher Hanson to serve as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
HIGHLIGHTS:
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING HIGH SAFETY STANDARDS WHILE DEPLOYING CLEAN NUCLEAR ENERGY:
Chairman Tom Carper:
"It is imperative that the Commission carefully review the many new nuclear
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Tom Carper, D-Delaware, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release on April 17, 2024:
U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today led a hearing to consider the nomination of Christopher Hanson to serve as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
HIGHLIGHTS:
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING HIGH SAFETY STANDARDS WHILE DEPLOYING CLEAN NUCLEAR ENERGY:
Chairman Tom Carper:
"It is imperative that the Commission carefully review the many new nuclearplant designs that companies, entrepreneurs and the U.S. Government are bringing forward. And at the same time, the Commission must ensure that existing reactors can continue to operate safely - in many cases well past their original design life."
Chair Chris Hanson:
"If confirmed by the Senate, I pledge to continue leading the agency and tackling the challenges ahead for both the existing fleet of reactors and next-generation nuclear technologies, while upholding the agency's critical safety and security mission."
ON CHAIR HANSON'S WORK TO PREPARE THE NRC FOR THE 21ST CENTURY:
Chairman Carper:
"Under Chair Hanson's leadership, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has undertaken significant efforts to modernize the agency while dealing with constrained resources. He has skillfully led the Commission's development of policies to prepare for new technologies. That includes, for example, the Commission's work to establish a new regulatory framework for the safe licensing and operation of the next generation of nuclear reactors as well as fusion energy systems. Through initiatives like this one, the Commission is improving efficiency while maintaining high standards for safety."
ON THE ADVANCE ACT:
Chairman Carper:
"It's up to us in Congress, and particularly in this Committee, to ensure that the Commission has the right leadership and resources it needs for the 21st Century. And that is why I've been working for years now with Ranking Member Senator Shelley Moore Capito and others on the Committee to pass our ADVANCE Act ... I believe the ADVANCE Act will provide the Commission with the tools, the resources and workforce that it needs in order to usher in the future of nuclear energy."
Chair Hanson:
"Mr. Chairman ... thank you for your leadership, and Senator Capito for her leadership, Sen. Whitehouse and others who have really come together and put together what I think is a very beneficial piece of legislation that can be very beneficial to the agency going forward."
ON SUPPORTING CHRIS HANSON:
Chairman Carper:
"[T]he Nuclear Regulatory Commission is most effective when it has a full slate of commissioners who can carry out its critically important mission -- to protect the safety of our nuclear facilities and maintain public trust while facilitating the safe deployment of clean nuclear energy. I believe that Chair Hanson is the right person for the job at this time, and I hope to work with members of this Committee -- including our Ranking Member -- to move his nomination through the confirmation process."
Rep. Meuser Legislation to Encourage Private Capital Investment in Rural, Low-Income Areas Passes in Committee
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on April 17, 2024:
Today, legislation introduced by Representatives Dan Meuser (R-PA) and Hillary Scholten (D-MI), H.R. 5333, the Investing in All of America Act of 2023, unanimouslypassed in the House Small Business Committee. This legislation would incentivize greater private capital investments in small businesses, particularly those in rural or low-income areas, and those operating in the national security sector.
Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) are privately owned firms regulated by the
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, April 18 -- Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on April 17, 2024:
Today, legislation introduced by Representatives Dan Meuser (R-PA) and Hillary Scholten (D-MI), H.R. 5333, the Investing in All of America Act of 2023, unanimouslypassed in the House Small Business Committee. This legislation would incentivize greater private capital investments in small businesses, particularly those in rural or low-income areas, and those operating in the national security sector.
Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) are privately owned firms regulated by theSmall Business Administration (SBA). SBICs raise private capital, which is matched with leverage by the SBA. This combined capital is then invested directly into small businesses. Importantly, the SBIC program operates without taxpayer subsidy, meaning taxpayer funds are not used to support credit extended in SBIC investments.
Over the past two decades, SBIC-backed businesses have generated 3 million new jobs and supported an additional 10.5 million jobs. Last year alone, SBICs injected more than $8 billion into small businesses nationwide, with $412.3 million directed towards Pennsylvania small businesses. Despite these successes, recent studies indicate that less than 20% of SBIC investment reaches low to middle-income communities. The Investing in All of America Act aims to address this gap and encourage more equitable distribution of investment capital.
The bonus leverage in this legislation doesn't alter the cost or risks of the SBIC program, maintaining its successful private capital ratio to SBA leverage, without taxpayer subsidy. Additionally, the legislation adjusts SBIC leverage caps to keep pace with inflation. By reinstating the inflation adjuster, we ensure SBICs' investment power stays aligned with market trends, enabling continued support for small businesses.
Congressman Dan Meuser said, "As someone who spent more than 20 years helping grow a small business into a larger business, I understand the struggle small businesses face securing capital. Persistent inflation and rising interest rates have only made accessing capital more difficult for small businesses in Pennsylvania and across the country. By implementing additional bonus leverage within the SBIC Program, this legislation incentivizes investment and supports economic growth in often-underserved communities. My bill is not just about supporting small businesses; it's about bolstering the economic growth and revitalization in eastern central Pennsylvania and similar regions nationwide. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan effort, which will help grow America's small businesses."
H.R. 5333, the Investing in All of America Act of 2023 was reported favorably by the Small Business Committee by a vote of 23-0. The legislation now awaits further consideration by the full House of Representatives.
Representatives Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Don Davis (NC-01), Mark Alford (MO-04), Young Kim (CA-40), Zachary Nunn (IA-03), Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Andy Barr (KY-06), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Erin Houchin (IN-09), Byron Donalds (FL-19), and Nick LaLota (NY-01) are cosponsors of the Investing in All of America Act.
ICYMI: Sen. Johnson Reveals Why Democrats Abdicated Their Constitutional Duty
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, issued the following news release on April 17, 2024:
On Wednesday, Sen. Johnson spoke on the Senate floor, explaining why Senate Democrats abdicated their constitutional duty and did great harm to the U.S. Senate by cavalierly dismissing the serious charges against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. They did so, because they do not want the American people to see how disastrous their open border policy is.
On
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, issued the following news release on April 17, 2024:
On Wednesday, Sen. Johnson spoke on the Senate floor, explaining why Senate Democrats abdicated their constitutional duty and did great harm to the U.S. Senate by cavalierly dismissing the serious charges against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. They did so, because they do not want the American people to see how disastrous their open border policy is.
Sen. Johnson's full speech can be found here (https://rumble.com/v4q29u5-senator-ron-johnson-floor-speech-4.17.24.html).
Onhow Mayorkas aided and abetted all the damage, destruction, and crimes at the southern border
"This chart, had we had a trial, this would have been the irrefutable DNA evidence to prove the crime. There's no way you can take a look at the history of illegal entry into this country and not recognize that what has happened under the Biden administration, under Secretary Mayorkas, is nothing less than an utter catastrophe...
"What this chart shows is that this was purposeful. This was willful. President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas, our Democrat colleagues here in Congress, in the Senate, they want an open border. They caused this crisis. This didn't just happen. This was a game plan that they implemented. They aided and abetted all the damage, all the destruction, all the crimes that are a result of this. They have aided and abetted it...
"There is nothing humane about facilitating the multibillion-dollar business model of some of the most evil people on the planet. The human traffickers, the sex traffickers, the drug traffickers. How many overdose deaths have we experienced throughout America? Because of this open border policy? There's nothing humane about that...
"But I asked him, Secretary Mayorkas, 'I mean, don't you recognize this is a crisis?' And this is where he was saying, 'we've got a secure border. I wouldn't say it's a crisis.' 'Would you at least admit it's a problem?' 'No Senator, it's a challenge.' Now, I would view that as a lie. I would have liked to have heard the evidence presented by the House managers of other instances where Secretary Mayorkas lied to Congress, which, again, as I thought was deftly pointed out by the senator from Louisiana. Isn't that a felony? And doesn't impeachment only have to be a misdemeanor? Again, so there's so much wrong in what our Democratic colleagues did today by just summarily, cavalierly dismissing these charges. It's going to come back to haunt our country."
House Rules Committee Chairman Burgess Issues Opening Statement on H.R. 3602
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, chairman of the House Rules Committee, issued the following opening statement on H.R. 3602, on April 17, 2024:
* * *
Good evening.
President Biden's failed leadership destabilized our national security and that of our allies. Whether at home or abroad, the world has gotten more dangerous on his watch--not less. That much is indisputable. House Republicans are committed to safeguarding Americans and our strategic partners from the fallout of this President's reckless decision-making.
In keeping with that commitment, the Rules Committee will
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, April 18 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, chairman of the House Rules Committee, issued the following opening statement on H.R. 3602, on April 17, 2024:
* * *
Good evening.
President Biden's failed leadership destabilized our national security and that of our allies. Whether at home or abroad, the world has gotten more dangerous on his watch--not less. That much is indisputable. House Republicans are committed to safeguarding Americans and our strategic partners from the fallout of this President's reckless decision-making.
In keeping with that commitment, the Rules Committee willconsider H.R. 3602, the End the Border Catastrophe Act, a measure designed to address the national security crisis President Biden created at our southern border. Since he took office, there have been more than 7.6 million illegal immigrant encounters at our southwest border. Estimates suggest upwards of 1.8 million additional illegal immigrants evaded Border Patrol and entered our country.
For context, the Obama Administration believed 1,000 crossings a day was a crisis. We're well past that now. Under the Biden Administration, we've witnessed 38 straight months with more than 100,000 illegal immigrant encounters at our southwest border.
This didn't happen in a vacuum. The Biden Administration made over 60 rash choices that put our country on the brink, including the decisions to stop border wall construction, formally end the successful 'Remain in Mexico' program of President Trump, and reinstate catch-and-release policies.
Now, America's national security lies in tatters. Over 5,000 illegal immigrants are being released into the U.S. every day, more than 20,000 Chinese nationals illegally crossed the southern border in FY24 so far, and at least 357 individuals on the terrorist watchlist tried to enter our country under this President's leadership.
Just last month, an illegal immigrant admitted to Border Patrol he hoped to make a bomb and travel to New York. But how many of his compatriots evaded apprehension and entered our country? The Biden Administration has no idea. That should scare all of us.
This self-inflicted crisis has also shattered our communities. It continues to fuel the illicit fentanyl epidemic and brought everything from retail theft rings to outright murder to our streets. Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student with her whole life ahead of her, was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant who travelled here--and was released into the interior--on President Biden's watch.
This cruel and dangerous reality is simply unsustainable. Yet the Biden Administration has proven time and time again they are not interested in defending our own borders.
In the wake of their dereliction of duty, House Republicans must continue to step up and make every effort to truly end this nightmare. The bill before us today reiterates our commitment to implementing strong border security measures. It forces the Biden Administration to restart construction of the border wall, increases the number of Border Patrol agents and provides bonus pay, and ends catch-and-release and abuse of executive immigration authority. It also requires transparency from the Department of Homeland Security on illegal crossings and strengthens the asylum process.
The bill simultaneously provides financial relief for Texas as it bears the brunt of this invasion. It is wholly unfair that Texans are expected to shoulder many of the financial and human costs of this President's open-borders agenda.
Border security is national security. Unlike President Biden, House Republicans will not abandon our responsibility to keep Americans safe. This measure will deliver on that obligation and curtail the worst impulses of this administration.
House Committee on Small Business Unanimously Reports Seven Bipartisan Bills Favorably to House
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, chairman of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following statement on April 17, 2024:
* * *
Today, Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, led a full Committee markup where all seven bills considered were passed by the Committee. Chairman Williams issued the following statement after today's markup.
"Today's markup once again demonstrated that this Committee is committed to working together to meet the needs of small businesses," said Chairman Williams. "All seven bills passed out
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, April 18 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, chairman of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following statement on April 17, 2024:
* * *
Today, Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, led a full Committee markup where all seven bills considered were passed by the Committee. Chairman Williams issued the following statement after today's markup.
"Today's markup once again demonstrated that this Committee is committed to working together to meet the needs of small businesses," said Chairman Williams. "All seven bills passed outof Committee today mark another step towards strengthening small businesses across the country, cutting back the federal bureaucracy, and ensuring that every American has the resources they need to start a small business of their own. Starting a small business has long been central to the American Dream, and the legislation we considered today will ensure that it remains within reach."
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H.R. 7984 - "The Rural Small Business Resilience Act" - introduced by Reps. Pappas and Bean.
* This bill will require the SBA to meet communities where they are when offering assistance following a disaster.
* Adopted and Reported Favorably to the House: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.
H.R. 5333 - "The Investing in All of America Act of 2023" - introduced by Reps. Meuser and Scholten.
* The Investing in All of America Act of 2023 increases the SBIC licensee commitment to account for inflation and provides additional leverage to licensees when investing in smaller enterprises and underserved communities.
* Adopted and Reported Favorably to the House: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.
H.R. 8014 - "The Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act" - introduced by Reps. Mfume and Alford.
* This bill will bring clarity to small business owners when a federal agency cancels a contract solicitation and help them identify similar contracts to bid on.
* Adopted and Reported Favorably to the House: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.
H.R. 7987 - "The Plain Language in Contracting Act" - introduced by Reps. LaLota and Thanadar.
* The Plain Language in Federal Contracting Act makes it easier to understand a federal contract by requiring agencies to write concisely.
* Adopted and Reported Favorably to the House: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.
H.R. 7988 - "The Small Business Procurement and Utilization Reform (SPUR) Act of 2024" - introduced by Reps. Stauber, and Glusenkamp Perez.
* This bill will require agencies to factor in small businesses who won a federal contract for the first time when graded on the SBA's annual procurement Scorecard.
* Adopted and Reported Favorably to the House: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.
H.R. 7985 - "The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act of 2024" - introduced by Reps. McGarvey and Molinaro.
* This bill requires the SBA to submit a report to Congress on the challenges individuals with disabilities face when starting a business and to look at resources across the federal government that help individuals with disabilities.
* Adopted and Reported Favorably to the House: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.
H.R. 7989 - "The ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act" - introduced by Reps. Molinaro and Pappas.
* This bill requires the SBA to enter into a Memorandum of Understands with the National Council on Disability to advise and assist the SBA in their efforts to assist individuals with disabilities.
* Adopted and Reported Favorably to the House: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.
Hearing Wrap Up: Americans Witnessed a Breakdown of Scientific Debate During COVID-19
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, issued the following news release:
The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing titled "Academic Malpractice: Examining the Relationship Between Scientific Journals, the Government, and Peer Review" to explore any potential inappropriate influence exerted by the federal government related to COVID-19 over research publications. The Select Subcommittee is disappointed that the Editors-in-Chief of Nature and The Lancet declined Chairman Wenstrup's invitation to
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, April 18 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, issued the following news release:
The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing titled "Academic Malpractice: Examining the Relationship Between Scientific Journals, the Government, and Peer Review" to explore any potential inappropriate influence exerted by the federal government related to COVID-19 over research publications. The Select Subcommittee is disappointed that the Editors-in-Chief of Nature and The Lancet declined Chairman Wenstrup's invitation totestify at a public hearing. The Editor-in-Chief of Science Journals, Dr. Holden Thorp, however, accepted the Chairman's invitation and testified publicly about the scientific review process. Dr. Thorp testified that top journals often change their perspective on scientific issues when new evidence surfaces and described how "preprint" articles create confusion for Americans. Members pressed Dr. Thorp on Science's potentially inappropriate interaction with the federal government and highlighted the chilling effect of silencing scientific debate on public trust. The Select Subcommittee is committed to ensuring conflicts of interest, government intervention, and political biases will never again inappropriately influence the peer review process at top scientific journals.
Key Takeaways
Editor-in-Chief of Science Magazine, Dr. Holden Thorp, agrees with the Select Subcommittee that EcoHealth Alliance President Dr. Peter Daszak may have misled the U.S. government about his highly controversial DEFUSE proposal -- which some believe created the blueprint for COVID-19.
Dr. Holden Thorp critiqued Dr. Daszak's handling of the DEFUSE proposal and agreed with Chairman Wenstrup that new evidence revealed by the Select Subcommittee confirms Dr. Daszak's culpability: "At that time, I concluded that it was a proposal that wasn't funded. And there are many proposals that are not funded, in science. And so something that was not funded, I didn't see as significant as some people did. I understand how you could see it was circumstantial evidence to support some of the things that you're looking for. And I was critical of both the way that Dr. Collins and Dr. Daszak handled the revealing of that proposal. I certainly wasn't aware of something that I agree with you is very important that you've only recently uncovered, and that is that Dr. Daszak may have had other plans other than what was in the proposal."
On May 1, Dr. Daszak will appear for a public hearing before the Select Subcommittee. He will be asked to explain inconsistencies between his closed door transcribed interview -- where he claimed DEFUSE research would be conducted in North Carolina -- and a recently released Freedom of Information Act production that suggests EcoHealth planned to conduct the dangerous DEFUSE research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.
Top scientific journals do not always publish accurate information, conduct thorough peer review, or allow contrarian viewpoints. This is important to recognize because journals like Nature, Science, and The Lancet set the tone for what is believed and discussed in the scientific community.
Dr. Holden Thorp admitted that top scientific journals are not always correct and often change their point of view after publishing scientific information: "Scientists are opinionated people. We have opinions just like everybody else. But we also know, and we could have done a lot better job at explaining this, that science is a work in progress. And so, when we see new data, we change the way we're thinking, and I obviously did that many times during the pandemic and so did everybody else. In the future, we need to do a much better job telling people that...and we need to do a much better job of helping the public understand that."
It is clear that the authors of the now infamous "The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2" ("Proximal Origin") paper-- published by Nature Medicine in 2020 -- had significant conflicts of interest and that the paper was written to vilify and discredit discussion about the lab leak theory.
In July 2023, the Select Subcommittee released an interim staff report detailing substantial evidence of America's leading public health officials suppressing the COVID-19 lab leak hypothesis through the drafting, publication, and critical reception of "Proximal Origin." Key findings from the report are below:
* Nature initially rejected "Proximal Origin" because it didn't sufficiently downplay the lab leak theory.
* Dr. Fauci, Dr. Collins, and the NIH exerted undue influence over the drafting and publication of "Proximal Origin.
* "Proximal Origin" co-authors skewed available evidence when executing Dr. Fauci's vision of a single, zoonotic narrative.
* The co-authors of "Proximal Origin" allowed politics to influence the science behind the paper, according to Dr. Kristian Andersen.
* Investigating any COVID-19 cover-up is essential to preserving future scientific integrity.
Member Highlights
Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), D.P.M, noted that although the Editors-in-Chief of Nature, Science, and The Lancet were all invited to participate in the hearing, only the Editor-in-Chief of Science had the courage to appear before the Select Subcommittee.
Chairman Wenstrup: "I want to start with the empty chairs in the room. We also invited Dr. Skipper from Nature and Dr. Horton from The Lancet, both of which publish a significant amount of federally funded research. Dr. Thorpe, you're here. You showed up. Do you think your colleagues should have as well?"
Dr. Thorp: "I do. I'm disappointed that they're not here."
Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), D.P.M, closed the hearing by submitting the Select Subcommittee's comprehensive interim staff report titled "The Proximal Origin of a Cover-Up" for the record after members of the Minority falsely accused the Majority of failing to uncover evidence of America's leading health officials suppressing the lab-leak hypothesis.
Chairman Wenstrup: "From our investigations here on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, we know what happened during COVID 19 is Dr. Andersen, who was one of the authors of "Proximal Origins" said Dr. Fauci prompted this, for us to get together and write this. I didn't make that up. It's not a lie. Those were his words that we have gotten through our investigation. I'm going to submit for the record, this is the interim majority staff report on The Proximal Origin of a Cover-Up, it's entitled. The evidence that I referred to is in here, and I'm going to submit it for the record, in case not everyone on this committee has had the chance to read it.
"So a paper gets published where it appears there is sometimes a predetermined outcome from the beginning. You know, as doctors, we read all kinds of articles and you know, a lot of times I want to go to the conclusion first and then see if they already had the conclusion before they wrote their piece and look at things objectively. So, we have to do that sometimes. It's hard to say that government officials didn't have any influence, especially on "Proximal Origins" when the record shows that those conversations took place from government officials saying, I'm putting you guys together, I want you to write this piece."
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), M.D., elicited new evidence from Editor-in-Chief of Science Magazine that top scientific journals contributed to the politicization of COVID-19 and that the journals should have done more to ensure the peer review process was void of political interference.
Rep. McCormick: "The same thing goes for the way that we looked at treatments for this COVID disease and the way we talked about medications and isolation and everything else that has been politicized. Could you comment on how the politicization of this disease has actually inhibited a good scientific solution for future debate on medical procedures?"
Dr. Thorp: "I think the politicization of COVID, you know, if we look back on it as something that we all probably wish we hadn't experienced and hadn't contributed to that to the extent that we did. And I think the scientific community contributed to that sometimes, and I think politicians contributed to it as well. And it would have been nice to have had a calmer path through the whole thing. But, thankfully, science works in a way that got us to a lot of things that did work."
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), M.D., defended scientists and lawmakers who had the courage to challenge the government's preferred narrative about the origin of COVID-19 and noted that public trust suffers when contrarian views are censored.
Rep. Miller-Meeks: "As you correctly pointed out, science is not consensus of opinion. And I just want to say, since the time I came into Congress in 2021, I have talked about why the origins of COVID-19 were important. Not partisan, not conspiratorial. But one -- laboratory safety. The world has a right to know that the correct type of research is being done in the correct lab safety environment. Number two -- immediate disclosure of viruses or bacteria that may lead to a pandemic. And number four -- the ethics of the type of research that is being done in those laboratories.
"To say that there was no certainty and no outcome from these hearings -- I am proud of the work this Select Subcommittee has done. We are talking about this topic today because people dared to question the narrative that was being proposed. Trust suffers because of censorship, because of a lack of debate within the scientific community. So due to the work of this Select Subcommittee, I think that we have advanced and people that have disparate voices, people that dare to challenge the current narrative which we have seen in science time and time again. And I will bring up peptic ulcer disease is not caused by type-A personality, but a bacteria. And thank goodness people were willing to challenge the medical narrative. But it's letting disparate voices know that they will be heard, they will not be censored. And, that, absolutely 100% will lead to better preparation for the next pandemic."
