24 GOP governors wrote a letter to Joe Biden standing in opposition to “two proposed instruments currently under negotiation that would purport to grant the World Health Organization (WHO) unprecedented and unconstitutional powers over the United States and its people.”
“These proposed changes could drastically change the role of governors in response to their charge as the state health officials,” it read.
“These proposed accords aim to significantly alter the amendments to the WHO’s existing International Health Regulations (IHRs) and introduce a new ‘Pandemic Agreement’ (Treaty) that would undermine national sovereignty, infringe upon states’ rights, and jeopardize constitutionally guaranteed freedoms,” it read.
The governors from the following states signed the letter:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
.@GovRonDeSantis is among 24 Republican Governors to ‘resist’ delegating health authority to WHO amid Geneva meeting.#MandateFreedom https://t.co/QX7WqGmfkm
— Cyberspace Commander Krystal 🐊 🇺🇸 (@MsBradsher) May 22, 2024
“I’ve joined other Republican governors in writing a letter to President Biden opposing proposals that would grant the World Health Organization unprecedented and unconstitutional powers over the United States and its people,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said.
I've joined other Republican governors in writing a letter to President Biden opposing proposals that would grant the World Health Organization unprecedented and unconstitutional powers over the United States and its people. Read the full letter below: pic.twitter.com/36RwDqHwwQ
— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) May 22, 2024
“The objective of these instruments is to empower the WHO, particularly its uncontrollable Director-General, with the authority to restrict the rights of U.S. citizens, including freedoms such as speech, privacy, travel, choice of medical care, and informed consent, thus violating our Constitution’s core principles,” the letter read.
“Under the proposed amendments and treaty, the WHO’s Director-General would supposedly gain unilateral power to declare a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC) in member nations, extending beyond pandemics to include a range of perceived emergencies,” it continued.
“Signatories include: Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Mike Dunleavy (AK), Governor Sarah Sanders (AR), Governor Ron DeSantis (FL), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Brad Little (ID), Governor Eric Holcomb (IN), Governor Kim Reynolds (IA), Governor Jeff Landry (LA), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Greg Gianforte (MT), Governor Jim Pillen (NE), Governor Joe Lombardo (NV), Governor Chris Sununu (NH), Governor Doug Burgum (ND), Governor Kevin Stitt (OK), Governor Henry McMaster (SC), Governor Kristi Noem (SD), Governor Bill Lee (TN), Governor Greg Abbott (TX), Governor Spencer Cox (UT), Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA), Governor Jim Justice (WV), and Governor Mark Gordon (WY),” Dr. Kat Lindley noted.
24 Republican governors joined together, writing a letter to President Biden to state their united opposition to two proposals currently under negotiation that would grant the World Health Organization (WHO) unprecedented and unconstitutional powers over the United States and its… pic.twitter.com/aZx2WzlMap
— Dr. Kat Lindley (@KLVeritas) May 22, 2024
“Additional concerns arise regarding the establishment of a global surveillance infrastructure and requirements for member states to censor speech related to public health, potentially facilitating the proliferation of biological weapons,” the letter said.
“We affirm that public health policy is a matter reserved for the states, not the federal government, and certainly not international bodies like the WHO. We are committed to resisting any attempts to transfer authority to the WHO over public policy affecting our citizens or any efforts by the WHO to assert such authority over them,” it concluded.
Read the full letter:
Florida’s Voice reports:
Attorneys general also sent a letter to Biden earlier in May opposing giving the WHO such authority, including Florida’s Ashley Moody.
Both of Florida’s GOP senators, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, similarly called on the Biden administration to not cede sovereign power to the WHO at the beginning of May, with 47 other senators.
DeSantis gained national prominence out of the coronavirus pandemic with his opposition to health mandates, such as prolonged business lockdowns and vaccine or mask mandates.