Axios: “Two House Republicans – including Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) – are introducing a bill Tuesday to sanction top Chinese health officials until they allow an investigation into whether the coronavirus originated in a Wuhan lab, according to a copy of the bill text obtained by Axios. The lab-leak theory has regained prominence in both the scientific and political worlds, after the Wall Street Journal reported that three scientists who worked at the Wuhan Institute of Virology experienced COVID-19 symptoms in November 2019.”
“There’s still no conclusive evidence on where the virus originated. In March, a joint team of investigators from China and the World Health Organization called the lab-leak theory ‘extremely unlikely.’ But the report that team produced has come under fire over the lack of transparency from the Chinese government, and there have been bipartisan calls for further investigation. Stefanik and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) will introduce the ‘World Deserves to Know Act’ on Tuesday afternoon. While it’s hard to see its path to becoming law, having a member of congressional leadership behind the bill signifies how aggressively the party plans to lean into the issue.”