U.S. Representative Debbie Lesko (R-AZ- 08) introduced a bill intended to cease government funding to all organizations that decide to ignore federal laws.
The Stop the Outlay of Payments Act would immediately stop the use of taxpayer funds to any organization that has demonstrated an effort to violate these regulations.
The legislation comes in response to reports that EcoHealth Alliance — a scientific research organization — failed to disclose that it provided funds to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the research lab that has drawn international attention due to concerns over the lab’s connections to the origin of COVID-19, from a National Institutes of Health grant.
Under federal law, the money directed to the Wuhan Institute of Virology should have been disclosed. However, even though the group violated federal law, they continue to receive federal funding.
“EcoHealth Alliance continued to receive federal grants even though they violated the terms of a previous grant by failing to report the amount of money funneled to a lab in Wuhan, China that engaged in bat coronavirus research and posed serious bio-safety risks,” Lesko said. “This bill protects taxpayer dollars by stopping all grant funding if an organization is in violation of the terms of any federal grant”
EcoHealth has been under fire recently for its failure to disclose the funding. The organization’s CEO recused himself from an international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
The law further allows companies 120 days to come into compliance after federal funding has been suspended and can continue to receive support from other various forms of grants if an agreement has been made to resolve the previous suspension of federal funding.
Senator Jony Ernst (R-IA) introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
