# Plain Language Summary: H.R. 497

This bill would stop the U.S. government from spending any money on the World Health Organization (WHO) until certain conditions are met. Right now, the U.S. contributes money to the WHO both through required membership fees and voluntary donations. This bill would freeze all that funding and prevent the U.S. from joining or rejoining the organization unless the President certifies that the WHO has made specific changes.

The bill lists six conditions that would need to be satisfied before funding could resume. These include requiring the WHO to adopt reforms so that humanitarian aid goes to those who need it most rather than being influenced by politics, ensuring the organization isn't controlled by China, and investigating whether the WHO covered up China's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also demands that the WHO give observer status to Taiwan and guarantee that medical supplies aren't diverted to Iran, North Korea, or Syria. Additionally, the WHO would need to improve its transparency and eliminate waste and fraud in its operations.

In practical terms, if this bill became law, it would effectively cut off U.S. funding to the WHO unless the President decides all these conditions have been met. This could significantly impact global health initiatives that the WHO coordinates, since the U.S. is one of its largest financial contributors. It could also affect how the U.S. participates in international disease surveillance and pandemic response efforts. The bill essentially uses funding as leverage to pressure the WHO to make changes that the bill's supporters believe are necessary.

To prohibit the use of funds to seek membership in the World Health Organization or to provide assessed or voluntary contributions to the World Health Organization.

Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]

 <p>This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to seek U.S. membership in the World Health Organization (WHO), or to make contributions to the WHO, until the President makes certain certifications to Congress. </p> <p>Specifically, the prohibition shall apply until the President certifies that the WHO (1) has adopted reforms to ensure that humanitarian assistance is not politicized; (2) is not under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and is not involved in a cover-up of the CCP's response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic; (3) has granted observer status to Taiwan; (4) does not divert humanitarian or medical supplies to Iran, North Korea, or Syria; and (5) has put in place mechanisms to increase transparency and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.</p>