Covid-19 Origin Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. HAWLEY. Mr. President, we are here tonight for a very simple reason with a very simple proposition--that the American people deserve to know about the origins of COVID-19. They deserve to know how this terrible pandemic that has ravaged the globe and our country, how it got started and what China's role was in starting it.

Now, we have seen a parade of government officials speculate about the origins in one place or another. And there is increasing speculation and, indeed, increasing numbers of statements from government officials saying that perhaps this virus originated in a Chinese lab, in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Well, I think it is time that the American people got to decide for themselves. It is time that they actually got to see the evidence that the U.S. Government has collected on this issue, and that is exactly what the measure that we are introducing here tonight would do. It would make available to the American people the evidence that the U.S. Government has about the origins of this terrible virus and this terrible pandemic.

I am proud to be joined in this effort by Senator Braun, and I know that he would like to make a few remarks.

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Mr. HAWLEY. Mr. President, the American people can be trusted with the truth. More than that, the American people deserve the truth.

They deserve to know the true origins of this virus. They deserve to be able to evaluate the evidence for themselves. They deserve it. Their government owes it to them, and it is time to act.

And the American people deserve something else. They deserve to have this government hold accountable that nation which started this virus, whose lies about this virus turned it into a global pandemic, whose lies about this virus prevented our country and many others from being able to address it effectively in time. Of course, I am talking about China. The American people deserve to have all of the evidence and deserve to have this government's full effort and the effort of our allies and partners in holding accountable China for what it has done, not just to this country but to the world, and to make sure that something like this never happens again.

So, Mr. President, I ask now unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 1867, which is at desk.
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Mr. HAWLEY. Mr. President, I thank the Senate for this action tonight.

This is, as Senator Braun said, an important first step. It is only a first step, but the truth is always the right step, and that is the action that we have taken tonight.

Order of Business

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