Biden hasn’t made a decision on COVID origins bill

President Joe Biden said Friday afternoon that he’s still considering whether to sign a bill that declassifies all the information the government has about COVID-19’s origins. 

‘I haven’t made that decision yet,’ he told reporters as he departed the White House for another weekend in Wilmington, Delaware. 

Earlier Friday, the House voted unanimously for the Biden administration to declassify all information related to the origins of COVID – nearly three years since the Trump administration declared a national emergency due to the pandemic.

The American public is now one step closer to discovering the truth about the start of the virus that sparked widespread lockdowns and restrictions, and to the extent to which China is to blame. 

President Joe Biden said Friday afternoon that he hadn’t decided whether to sign a bill that declassifies all the information the government has about COVID-19’s origins.

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The vote passed 419-0 on Friday, with all members of Congress backing the bid to make links to the Wuhan lab and documents on the beginning of the virus public.

The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk after the Senate passed it earlier this month, and Republicans have demanded he signs it to clarify what happened. 

If the President does not take action for ten days while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law.  He can veto it, but Congress has enough votes – two-thirds of the House and the Senate – to override a veto.

The bipartisan vote comes two weeks after a Department of Energy report stated that COVID likely leaked from an accidental lab leak in China.

It would require the Director of National Intelligence to release all information the declassification of ‘any and all information relating to potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of the Coronavirus Disease.’ 

FBI Director Christopher Wray also said on March 1 that the bureau believes the virus most likely came from a lab accident.

The rest of the U.S. government is split on theories of the genesis of the pandemic that led to the lockdowns and restrictions.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Biden COVID advisor who retired from the government last year, has said he still believes it was likely a natural occurrence.

However, he has insisted he still has an ‘open mind’ on the theories, and the origins may not be known for years, if ever.

He has faced constant scrutiny and, earlier this week, was accused of trying to shut out experts who backed the lab leak theory because they didn’t fit into his ‘narrative.’

In an interview on Fox News on Thursday, Fauci denied the allegations. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Biden COVID advisor who retired from the government last year, has said he still believes it was likely a natural occurrence 

The House voted unanimously for the Biden administration to declassify all information related to the origins of COVID – including documents on the investigation into whether it leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (above)

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden would ‘look’ at the bill, but wouldn’t confirm if he will sign it when asked at her briefing.

House votes 419-0 to fore Biden administration to declassify ALL information about COVID origins and the Wuhan lab leaks: Bill now heads to President’s desk

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri introduced the bill and said the passage was the first step in finally holding China accountable.

‘Today the House passed my COVID origins bill with bipartisan support, sending it to the President’s desk,’ said Hawley. 

‘This is a great first step in holding China accountable for this crisis, and I urge President Biden to sign it immediately. The American people deserve to know the truth.’

Experts say the true origin of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 1 million Americans, may not be known for many years — if ever.

‘Transparency is a cornerstone of our democracy,’ said Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, during the debate.