U.S. Rep. Rose Introduces First Bill of 118th Congress to Examine Origins of COVID-19

Washington, DC—U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) introduced his first bill of the 118^th Congress, H.R. 301, the Unmasking the Origins of COVID-19 Act, which seeks to reward individuals who provide credible information regarding the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak. The State Department has long used rewards as a means for gaining critical information in numerous cases, such as in the successful takedown of Osama Bin Laden. This legislation would also encourage disclosure of nonpublic information related to gain of function research conducted at or in connection with Chinese laboratories, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

U.S. Representative John Rose released the following statement: 

“Despite Democrats forming a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis in the last Congress, Americans still have no idea where COVID-19 came from or if U.S. taxpayer dollars helped fund gain of function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology,” said Rep. Rose. “In Speaker McCarthy’s first speech as Speaker of the House, he committed to examining the origins of Covid-19—something all Americans would like answers to. My very first bill will provide a real-life incentive to get to the bottom of the origins of the outbreak, and I am hopeful a new Republican Majority will consider it before the full Congress.”

Original cosponsors include Representatives Thomas Massie (KY-04), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01).

Background:

The text of the Unmasking the Origins of COVID-19 Act can be found here.

U.S. Representative John Rose is currently serving his third term representing Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District and resides in Cookeville with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Guy and Sam. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, and White counties as well as portions of Davidson, Scott, Warren, and Wilson counties. Representative Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner, and attorney, and currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee.