WASHINGTON—On Wednesday, June 16th, U.S. Rep. John Rose (TN-6) delivered remarks on the House floor about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) shameful coverup of the coronavirus pandemic and stressed the importance of holding the Communist government accountable for its deceitful actions during the outbreak.
The full speech, as prepared for delivery, is below:
“The evidence of the Chinese Communist Party’s denial, distortion and concealment of the coronavirus pandemic from its critical beginning to present day is overwhelming.
In January 2020, if not before, the CCP knew it was dealing with a fast-spreading disease in Wuhan but rejected transparency in favor of a propaganda campaign to spread disinformation.
From manipulated statistics and the prevention of an investigation by international experts to ousted journalists and whistleblowers who were silenced through intimidation and foul play—there are countless examples of how the CCP lied to the rest of the world about the origins of the pandemic.
Prominent epidemiologists and biologists have raised concerns about a possible spillover in the Wuhan lab, and CDC Director Dr. Walensky says it’s ‘possible’ COVID could have leaked ‘from a lab.’
It was recently reported that three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became ill with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and sought hospital care in November 2019. On top of that, China has not been forthright in sharing information, nor have they cooperated with the U.S. or the global community.
The dishonesty of China’s leadership regarding the coronavirus pandemic has led to hundreds of thousands of American deaths, millions of sick Americans and trillions of dollars of economic damage.
In the face of this mounting evidence, I joined 211 of my House colleagues in urging Speaker Pelosi to investigate the origins of COVID-19, but House Democrats continue to stonewall this effort.
The Biden Administration and House Democrats cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the CCP’s nefarious behavior. We must penalize and hold the CCP legally and financially responsible for the human and economic suffering its Communist government has caused.
Enough is enough.
I yield back.”
For the full video, click here.
U.S. Rep. John Rose is currently serving his second 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, Coffee, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, White and Wilson counties as well as portions of Cheatham and Van Buren counties. Rep. Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner and attorney, and currently serves on the Financial Services Committee.
