Public Law 118-2 | Public Law 118–2: To require the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information relating to the origin of COVID–19, and for other purposes.

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PUBLIC LAW 118–2—MAR. 20, 2023

137 STAT. 4

Public Law

118–2

118th Congress

An Act

To require the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information relating to the origin of COVID–19, and for other purposes.

Mar. 20, 2023

[S. 619]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

COVID–19 Origin Act of 2023.

50 USC 3161 note.

SECTION 1.

SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “

COVID–19 Origin Act of 2023

”.

SEC. 2.

SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

identifying the origin of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) is critical for preventing a similar pandemic from occurring in the future;

(2)

there is reason to believe the COVID–19 pandemic may have originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology; and

(3)

the Director of National Intelligence should declassify and make available to the public as much information as possible about the origin of COVID–19 so the United States and like-minded countries can—

(A)

identify the origin of COVID–19 as expeditiously as possible, and

(B)

use that information to take all appropriate measures to prevent a similar pandemic from occurring again.

SEC. 3.

DECLASSIFICATION OF INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ORIGIN OF COVID–19.

Deadline.

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall—

(1)

declassify any and all information relating to potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19), including—

(A)

activities performed by the Wuhan Institute of Virology with or on behalf of the People’s Liberation Army;

(B)

coronavirus research or other related activities performed at the Wuhan Institute of Virology prior to the outbreak of COVID–19; and

(C)

researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology who fell ill in autumn 2019, including for any such researcher—

(i)

the researcher’s name;

(ii)

the researcher’s symptoms;

(iii)

the date of the onset of the researcher’s symptoms;137 STAT. 5

(iv)

the researcher’s role at the Wuhan Institute of Virology;

(v)

whether the researcher was involved with or exposed to coronavirus research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology;

(vi)

whether the researcher visited a hospital while they were ill; and

(vii)

a description of any other actions taken by the researcher that may suggest they were experiencing a serious illness at the time; and

(2)

Reports.

submit to Congress an unclassified report that contains—

(A)

all of the information described under paragraph (1); and

(B)

only such redactions as the Director determines necessary to protect sources and methods.

Approved March 20, 2023.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 619:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 169 (2023):

Mar. 1, considered and passed Senate.

Mar. 10, considered and passed House.

DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2023):

Mar. 20, Presidential statement.

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