2024: Schweikert Voted To Require World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Prevention And Response Agreements To Be Approved By The Senate Prior To Implementation And To Express The Sense That Many Americans Are Skeptical Of The WHO. In September 2024, Schweikert voted for , according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill, as amended, that would require any World Health Assembly pandemic prevention and response agreement reached by the International Negotiating Body established by the second special session of the assembly be deemed a treaty and submitted to the Senate for approval before it can be enacted and implemented in the United States. The bill also would express the sense of Congress that a significant segment of the U.S. public is skeptical of the World Health Organization and the influence that China has over it. As amended, the bill would specify that it is U.S. policy to support Taiwan's full participation in the World Health Organization. It would also specify that an international agreement deemed a treaty by the bill would not have force of law in the U.S. before the date it was ratified by the Senate." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 219 to 199. [House Vote 411, 9/11/24; Congressional Quarterly, 9/11/24; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1425]
Republicans Opposed Such An Agreement, Arguing That It Would Infringe Taxpayers' Rights And Would Result In Taxpayer Money Going To Abortion. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Republicans argue that the U.S. should not be a part of the global accord and that the international health group is infringing on the rights of American taxpayers. Conservatives also worry the agreement will result in U.S. taxpayer dollars going toward abortion and caution that entering such accords could threaten U.S. intellectual property rights." [Congressional Quarterly, 9/11/24]
Supporters Of The Accord, Including The Biden Administration, Argued That Collaboration With Other WHO Members Was Necessary To Combat Pandemics And That Sovereignty Would Not Be Impacted. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Proponents of the pandemic accord argue that working with other WHO member countries to prepare for the next pandemic is essential. The Biden administration opposed the legislation and said the bill would improperly constrain the president's authority to work with the international community during global public health emergencies. 'False claims that the treaty would undermine our sovereignty have been undermined by multiple reputable sources,' Foreign Affairs ranking member Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., said on the House floor on Wednesday." [Congressional Quarterly, 9/11/24]