HR0864 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0864 LRB102 27727 ECR 39522 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The International Health Regulations (IHR) were adopted by 194 member countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2005; and

WHEREAS, The 2005 regulations enable the WHO to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) if it decides that an infectious disease outbreak has occurred in a member country; this PHEIC must be declared with the consent of the member country, which in practice recognizes the sovereignty of the nations that adopted the IHR; and

WHEREAS, On January 18, 2022, President Biden, through the United States Department of Health and Human Services (U.S. DHHS), announced proposed amendments to the IHR that many believe would transfer U.S. sovereign authority over health care decisions to the WHO director-general; and

WHEREAS, The proposed IHR amendments, which unlike a formal global treaty are not subject to U.S. Congressional approval, would cede basic national public health powers to an international body and override our basic sovereignty to the WHO; and

WHEREAS, Many concerned citizens and health organizations around the world believe that these proposed IHR amendments give the WHO unilateral authority to determine health emergencies and to dictate policy and response, which will threaten national sovereignty and lead to a centralized governance model of global health surveillance, management, and reporting; and

WHEREAS, The World Health Assembly (WHA), which is the decision-making body of WHO, will meet for its 75th Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland from May 22 through May 28 to hold sessions with partner agencies and WHO experts to discuss current and future priorities for public health issues of global importance; and

WHEREAS, The proposed IHR amendments are being fast-tracked by President Biden for consensus during the 75th Assembly; this is concerning because there will be no public citizen comment opportunities to officially sound the alarm, and many believe this violates the basic tenets of our democracy; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the U.S. DHHS to withdraw its proposed IHR amendments until such a time that there is sufficient input from the public and partner agencies; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we affirm our national sovereignty as it relates to public health governance and citizens' inalienable rights; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President of the United States, the U.S. Senate Majority Leader, the U.S. Senate Minority Leader, the U.S. Speaker of the House, the U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader, and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.