Federal

Defund EcoHealth Alliance Act

Source: Congress.gov · 446 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill stops federal money from going to an organization called EcoHealth Alliance, Inc. The law applies to any money the government approves or budgets, including grants and contracts. It also requires a study to track how much federal money may have gone to certain Chinese entities through EcoHealth Alliance.

Who It Affects

EcoHealth Alliance, Inc. and any subsidiaries (smaller companies directly owned by it) are directly impacted. Any subgrant or subcontract organizations and individuals working under EcoHealth Alliance are also affected. Federal agencies that give out money must follow this rule.

Key Provisions

• No federal funds can be given to EcoHealth Alliance, Inc., including any money already authorized or appropriated by law. (Sec. 2(a)) • The ban covers subsidiaries and related organizations directly controlled by EcoHealth Alliance, including subgrants and subcontracts. (Sec. 2(a)) • Within 2 years of the law taking effect, the Comptroller General of the United States (a government auditor) must study and report to Congress on all federal funds given to EcoHealth Alliance during the 10 years before the law passed. (Sec. 2(b)) • The study must examine whether federal money reached the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, or any other labs, agencies or organizations owned or controlled by these entities, whether located in foreign nations or elsewhere. (Sec. 2(b))

What Changes

Federal money that would have gone to EcoHealth Alliance, Inc. will no longer be available for that purpose. A government audit must track historical federal funding that may have reached Chinese entities through EcoHealth Alliance.

Important Definitions

None defined in the bill text.

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 494 To prohibit Federal funding to EcoHealth Alliance, Inc., and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 25, 2023 Mr. RESCHENTHALER (for himself, Mr. CRAWFORD, Mr. POSEY, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. DESJARLAIS, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, Mr. MIKE GARCIA of California, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mrs. GREENE of Georgia, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. PERRY, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. JACKSON of Texas, Mr. OGLES, and Mr. GUEST) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability A BILL To prohibit Federal funding to EcoHealth Alliance, Inc., and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Defund EcoHealth Al- 4 liance Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:38 Feb 04, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H494.IH H494 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 494 IH SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL FUNDING TO 1 ECOHEALTH ALLIANCE, INC. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—No funds authorized or appro- 3 priated by Federal law may be made available for any pur- 4 pose to EcoHealth Alliance, Inc., including any subsidi- 5 aries and related organizations that are directly controlled 6 by EcoHealth Alliance, Inc., including subgrant or sub- 7 contract organizations or individuals. 8 (b) GAO STUDY AND REPORT.—Not later than 2 9 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 10 Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct 11 a study, and submit a report to Congress, regarding the 12 amount of Federal funds awarded to EcoHealth Alliance, 13 Inc. (directly or indirectly through grants, contracts, sub- 14 grants, subcontracts, or any other type of agreement or 15 collaboration), during the 10-year period preceding such 16 date of enactment, that were provided, whether purposely 17 or inadvertently, to— 18 (1) the People’s Republic of China; 19 (2) the Chinese Communist Party; 20 (3) the Wuhan Institute of Virology; or 21 (4) any other lab, agency, organization, indi- 22 vidual, or instrumentality— 23 (A) that is owned or controlled (directly or 24 indirectly) by any of the entities listed in para- 25 graphs (1) through (3); or 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:38 Feb 04, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H494.IH H494 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 494 IH (B) located in any foreign nation. 1 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:38 Feb 04, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H494.IH H494 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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