Exclusive: Two Republican senators are calling on President Biden to comply with the coronavirus origins bill he signed into law earlier this year. The bill calls for the declassification of all information related to Chinese laboratories and their links to the origin of the novel coronavirus disease.
The Biden administration has yet to act on the requirements set out in the bill. 2023 COVID-19 Origins Act Even though the June 18 deadline for declassification is fast approaching.
“We are writing today to urge the prompt and full implementation of the 2023 COVID-19 Origins Act, passed unanimously by Congress and signed into law on March 20, 2023.” said Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri. Indiana Republican Mike Brown said in a letter sent to Biden on Wednesday, shared with Fox News Digital.
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“As you know, the 2023 Novel Coronavirus Origin Act requires the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to ‘declassify any information’ relating to the connection between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of the novel coronavirus. It is a law enactment,” they wrote.
Hawley and Brown added that the administration has not yet indicated when the relevant materials will be declassified, and that the law also requires that “all information” be sent to Congress.
Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley (left) and Indiana Republican Senator Mike Brown (right). (Getty Images)
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They wrote that the law does not allow redaction of information, but narrows the scope of redaction to “protect sources and means of information.”
Hawley and Brown wrote, “The government should do what the law says and not undermine Congress’ clear intention to provide the American people with the greatest possible transparency.”
“The American people have a right to know how this pandemic began, and the democratically elected representatives of the United States have unanimously expressed their will. Do not disturb them.” I urge you to do so,” he added.
President Joe Biden speaks during a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Rishi Snack in the White House East Room in Washington, DC, June 8, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
