Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) issued the following statement after the Director of National Intelligence released information related to the federal government’s report on the origins of COVID-19:

“This Friday night ‘news’ dump of a mere 10-page summary is a slap in the face of Americans who deserve full transparency about what information the government possesses regarding the origins of COVID-19. President Biden should follow through with what Congress has required: to declassify all information we need to help answer one of the most important public health questions of our lifetime. Doing so is critical to holding China accountable for its coverup of the virus’ origin and being prepared to prevent the next pandemic. The American people deserve it.

“Perhaps the most important lesson we’ve learned throughout the pandemic is that our government must be honest and forthcoming if we are ever to restore public trust and obtain justice for the victims of the pandemic—both those who lost their lives to the virus and those whose lives were harmed by unscientific lockdowns and mandates. This report fails to live up to either.” 

Background:  

Congress passed S. 619, the Covid-19 Origins Act, unanimously in March 2023, which requires the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declassify all information relating to potential links between the origins of COVID-19 and the Wuhan Institute of Virology.  

In 2021, Energy & Commerce Republicans called on the Biden administration to declassify information around research conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology Lab. CLICK HERE to read the letter.   

In 2022, Chair Rodgers, along with Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Chair Frank Lucas (R-OK), called upon the Biden administration again requesting declassification of reports related to the origins of COVID-19. CLICK HERE to read the letter.  

Earlier this year, Chair Rodgers, along with Subcommittee Chairs Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Jeff Duncan (R-SC) renewed requests for the Biden administration to declassify all COVID-19 origins reports.