U.S. Representative Earl L. “Buddy” Carter today continues his efforts to end the flow of taxpayer dollars to the kind of controversial research that may have caused COVID-19.
Carter’s amendment to House Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget package would have prevented U.S. taxpayer dollars from being used to fund gain-of-function research that would involve intentionally altering organisms to enhance or change their activity. A recent report by the U.S. intelligence community found it plausible that such activity could have created and unleashed COVID-19.
"The available evidence suggests COVID-19 may have leaked out of the Wuhan Institute of Virology after it was developed through gain-of-function research,” said Carter. “Even though we knew the dangers of gain-of-function research, the National Institute of Health and Dr. Anthony Fauci continued to fund it, both in America and overseas. We can and should stop U.S. taxpayer dollars from being used to fund this practice once and for all."
While Committee Democrats blocked Carter’s amendment, his effort to end the practice has bipartisan support.
Earlier this month, Carter was joined by Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar in introducing legislation to pause all government funding for gain-of-function research until proper safety standards can be put in place.
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