WASHINGTON – As the Senate reconvenes despite the continued spread of coronavirus, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in introducing sweeping comprehensive legislation to provide an additional $9 billion in funding to help support international efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 International Response and Recovery Act (CIRRA) is aimed at compelling the Trump Administration to constructively engage with other countries, international organizations, and multilateral fora to stop the spread of COVID-19, which will continue to exacerbate the United States’ public health and economic crisis without a coordinated global response.
“Since Majority Leader McConnell believes it is appropriate to reopen the Senate right now– in direct contravention of the advice of healthcare experts and at great risk to the hardworking men and women who keep the Capitol running – approving this commonsense legislation should be at the top of his agenda to help ensure the United States government can increase our capacity to prevent, respond and detect epidemic and pandemic threats, including COVID-19 ,” said Ranking Member Menendez.
The bill proposes a series of wide-ranging reforms including: U.S. participation in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which is working to accelerate the discovery of a vaccine for COVID-19; the immediate restoration of U.S. funding to the World Health Organization, and the payment of U.S. arrears to international organizations and institutions critical to the global fight against COVID-19; increased humanitarian assistance; and the re-establishment of a position within the National Security Council with responsibility for global health security emergencies.
“For nearly a century, the U.S. has worked with our partners and allies to address global threats, and provide for the common good. COVID-19 is no different. In order to stop the spread in the United States, we need to stop the spread everywhere,” added Senator Menendez. “There is a moral imperative to U.S. leadership in the global arena right now, and this legislation is a recognition that we need to lead the international community to bring this pandemic to an end. If we don’t, even if we are successful in our efforts here at home, failure in the international response makes it inevitable that COVID-19 will return to our shores.”
“We are in the midst of a global pandemic. This virus does not stop at border crossings or check a victim’s nationality. While we care for and protect Americans at home, we have an obligation to engage around the world to stem the health, economic and social challenges others are facing with COVID-19 or they will circle back and have serious consequences for our nation and people,” said Senator Cardin. “A global, multilateral response is the strongest response to such a global threat. At a different time, the U.S. would be a leader of such efforts, guiding the world successfully through its time of need. The Trump administration has shown itself to be incapable of such a role, having abdicated global leadership many times over. In the absence of leadership from the White House, Congress must work in a bipartisan way to force the Trump administration to engage with other nations in a comprehensive manner that will save lives while benefiting both humankind and America’s national security.”
“Our country is safer and better equipped to combat this virus if we work with our international partners to lead a coordinated, global response to this pandemic,” said Senator Shaheen. “The international community must address COVID-19 in countries where weak health systems aren’t able to respond to the full scope of this crisis, which means more loss of life and a failure to prevent further spread of this virus. This legislation helps strengthen the global health system, supports American citizens abroad and restores American global leadership at a time of deep crisis. I’ll continue to call for a U.S.-led global response to COVID-19 as Congress responds to this pandemic.”
“It is in the U.S. national interest to lead the rest of the world in combatting COVID-19 everywhere it exists,” said Senator Coons. “International efforts do not need to compete with the urgent public health response needs and the economic recovery of Americans at home. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation to enhance the protection of American citizens and provide the necessary tools and resources for a U.S.-led global response to this pandemic.”
“If we want to keep our nation safe, we must work with our partners around the world to mitigate this crisis,” said Senator Kaine. “I’m proud to join my colleagues on this comprehensive bill to provide the resources for the U.S. government to work with other nations and international organizations to combat the coronavirus and save lives.”
“As President Trump fails to show the leadership that this crisis demands, it’s even more important for the Senate to step in to offer a comprehensive global response to the coronavirus pandemic,” said Senator Markey. “I am proud that this bill includes several provisions from my legislation that would deter authoritarian opportunism, protect American citizens abroad while fighting infections overseas, and promote humanitarian access to North Korea. We must reverse the disturbing American retreat from global leadership under the Trump administration, and I thank Ranking Member Menendez for his partnership.”
“The coronavirus crisis knows no borders—so if we’re going to truly tackle this pandemic, we need to lead a bold global response and recovery strategy,” said Senator Merkley. “That means we must support international organizations including the World Health Organization, provide essential humanitarian support to refugees and other displaced populations, push back on those who would exploit a crisis to violate human rights, and affirm our commitment to a worldwide coordinated effort. This bill is an important step in our fight for the American leadership this crisis requires.”
“The coronavirus crisis knows no borders—so if we’re going to truly tackle this pandemic, we need to lead a bold global response and recovery strategy,” said Senator Merkley. “That means we must support international organizations including the World Health Organization, provide essential humanitarian support to refugees and other displaced populations, push back on those who would exploit a crisis to violate human rights, and affirm our commitment to a worldwide coordinated effort. This bill is an important step in our fight for the American leadership this crisis requires.”
A copy of the COVID-19 International Response and Recovery Act (CIRRA) can be found HERE. Click HERE for a section-by-section summary. Key provisions of the legislation include:
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