Grand Canyon Times

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) has re-introduced a bill to withdraw the United States from membership in the World Health Organization (WHO). 

“For years, the WHO has undermined American interests and remains one of the most corrupt and ineffective international institutions,” said Biggs when he first introduced the bill in June 2022. “The organization has been compromised by China and has sabotaged many public health investigations–including the COVID investigation in Wuhan.

Biggs has re-introduced the bill in the 118th Congress, drawing 18 co-sponsors as of the publication of this article.

According to the bill summary, the WHO Withdrawal Act, H.R. 79, "requires the President to immediately withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) and prohibits using any federal funds to provide for U.S. participation in the WHO. The bill also repeals the 1948 act authorizing the United States to join the WHO."

"The WHO Withdrawal Act, introduced by @repandybiggs, would require the President to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization," wrote Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) in Instagram post supporting the bill. Crane is a co-sponsor of H.R. 79.

"As a member of the WHO, we're paying an organization that's compromised by communist China to undermine American freedom," said Crane.

Established on April 7, 1948, the WHO is an agency within the United Nations that focuses on international public health. The agency is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with six regional offices and 150 field offices across the globe. The current director of the WHO is Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was elected in May 2017 and formerly served as Minister of Health and Minister of Foreign Affairs for Ethiopia. The United States joined the WHO on June 14, 1948.

According to the WHO, the United States was the third-largest donor to the organization in 2020-2021, with contributions totaling $693 million. That was surpassed only by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which contributed $751 million dollars, and Germany, which contributed $1,268,000.

“Despite the WHO’s failure to objectively provide health guidance to the world, President Biden now seeks to give the WHO more authority to define what a pandemic is, how long a pandemic lasts, and encroach upon the sovereignty of nation’s like ours. It’s unacceptable. My legislation ensures that we protect American interests first," said Biggs.

Biggs, 64, was first elected to represent Arizona’s Fifth District in 2016. He defeated challenger Talia Fuentes (D-Phoenix), winning 64 percent to Fuentes' 35 percent.  

Biggs previously served in the Arizona State House of Representatives for eight years, and in the Arizona State Senate for six years. He graduated from Brigham Young University, holds a masters degree from Arizona State University, and his J.D. from the University of Arizona. An Arizona native, Biggs and his wife, Cindy, live in Gilbert, AZ and six children and eight grandchildren.

Arizona's Fifth Congressional District is located within eastern Maricopa County and contains Gilbert, Queen Creek, southern and eastern Chandler, and eastern Mesa.