Recognizing the role of democracies in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, democracy's resiliency, the dangers of authoritarianism, and reaffirming the commitment of the United States to democratic principles.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 1081 Recognizing the role of democracies in responding to the COVID–19 pan- demic, democracy’s resiliency, the dangers of authoritarianism, and re- affirming the commitment of the United States to democratic principles. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AUGUST 11, 2020 Mr. LOUDERMILK submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing the role of democracies in responding to the COVID–19 pandemic, democracy’s resiliency, the dan- gers of authoritarianism, and reaffirming the commit- ment of the United States to democratic principles. Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic is a significant event in world history and will continue to challenge governments around the world; Whereas current research shows the novel COVID–19 strain was first transmitted in China in late 2019 and the World Health Organization declared COVID–19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020; Whereas democracies have responded to the pandemic by sharing scientific information and medical resources VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:39 Aug 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1081.IH HR1081 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 1081 IH internationally and remaining committed to the human rights and freedoms of their people; Whereas authoritarian regimes have taken advantage of the pandemic as an opportunity to centralize power, spread disinformation, expand their corrupt practices, or other- wise deny basic human rights to their people; Whereas democracies contribute to the construction of a vast network of international partnerships, authoritarian re- gimes see these partnerships as instruments to be ex- ploited for unilateral benefit and for realizing their long- held vision of having these institutions under their direc- tion; Whereas democracies share information transparently and en- sure that journalists operate freely, authoritarian regimes manipulate the content journalists can share and orga- nize disinformation through their state-controlled media systems; Whereas democracies have shown resilience during this global crisis by encouraging constructive debate, authoritarian regimes suppress internal criticisms, tightening their grip, giving their people yet more reason to resist; Whereas democracies have taken steps to ensure the health and safety of their people, authoritarian regimes have re- moved fundamental protections with no intention of re- turning basic, indispensable rights; Whereas Taiwan’s democratic government was among the first to recognize this new strain of the coronavirus and they chose to build an extensive and coordinated domestic response while seeking to share evidence of human-to- human transmission with the world, authoritarian re- VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:39 Aug 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1081.IH HR1081 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 1081 IH gimes declined to share early evidence of the virus to mis- lead the world; Whereas the Republic of South Korea has taken its place on the world stage as one of the most vibrant democracies, they built a concentrated domestic testing program and were the first to share test kits, authoritarian regimes concealed the truth through an elaborate disinformation campaign and blamed democracies as the origin of COVID–19; Whereas the United States remains committed to a system of checks and balances and protecting access to govern- ment officials, authoritarian regimes detain or imprison those who dare to criticize their leaders; Whereas Denmark was an early adopter of recommended so- cial distancing practices and its citizens rallied behind their leaders in hopes of having an early return to nor- malcy, authoritarian regimes mislead and disenfranchised their people; Whereas Australia established a working group of Federal, State, and local leaders to share information and increase resource utilization, authoritarian regimes centralized power to ensure only the dissemination of information fa- vorable to the state and prevent citizen oversight of cor- rupt practices; Whereas Iceland built their response on a robust testing pro- gram, authoritarian regimes’ censorship actions delayed the implementation of public health strategies, exposing a deep mistrust of the government; Whereas Canada trusted their medical experts to lead public health initiatives, authoritarian regimes rejected the find- ings of medical experts, such as Dr. Li Wenliang; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:39 Aug 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1081.IH HR1081 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 1081 IH Whereas Germany pursued meticulous contact tracing to slow the spread of the virus, authoritarian regimes have taken extreme measures forcing their people into isolation, in- cluding welding closed the doors of their homes; Whereas Japan treasured the health of Olympic visitors ahead of economic prosperity, authoritarian regimes placed regime security over global public health; and Whereas New Zealand rallied its people to face COVID–19 and eliminate the virus from its borders, authoritarian regimes waited several critical days before sharing valu- able information on the virus with their people: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep- 1 resentatives that the United States— 2 (1) recognizes the commitment of democracies 3 to democratic values and institutions in their dy- 4 namic response to the global COVID–19 pandemic 5 and condemns the actions of those that seek to use 6 the pandemic as an instrument to consolidate un- 7 democratic power and violate human rights; 8 (2) remembers its commitment to fundamental 9 democratic principles and to opposing the influence 10 of authoritarian regimes that threaten the inter- 11 national order; 12 (3) rejects the hollow appeal of 13 authoritarianism and urges the leaders of these 14 countries to reconsider their pursuit of censorship, 15 exploitation, and suppression of human rights; 16 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:39 Aug 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR1081.IH HR1081 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HRES 1081 IH (4) encourages authoritarian governments to 1 end their influence operations and disinformation 2 campaigns and discontinue behavior that divides na- 3 tions and undermines the legitimacy of international 4 institutions; and 5 (5) calls on democracies and international insti- 6 tutions to remember their promise of transparency, 7 accountability, integrity, and the free flow of infor- 8 mation. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:39 Aug 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR1081.IH HR1081 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS