HR 1425 United States House · 118th Congress

No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act

HR 1425, the "No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act," requires the U.S. Senate to approve any World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic preparedness treaty through a two-thirds vote. The bill deems any convention, agreement, or international instrument on pandemic prevention drafted by the WHO’s International Negotiating Body (INB) as a treaty subject to Senate ratification, rather than allowing it to take effect as an executive agreement. This directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation regarding WHO agreements, ensuring Congress has a formal role in approving such binding international commitments. The bill stems from congressional concerns about WHO’s pandemic response and public skepticism toward the organization, as outlined in its findings.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2023

Committee Review

Sep 2024

House Passage

Sep 2024

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Mar 7, 2023 Last action Sep 17, 2024

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 4 edits · Sep 11, 2024

MODERATE

The Engrossed version of HR 1425 adds a new Section 6 that explicitly bars any WHO pandemic convention or agreement from having legal force in US courts before Senate ratification, prevents its use to establish standing or challenge federal agency actions, and adds several new findings reinforcing the constitutional treaty-making process. It also inserts a statement of policy supporting Taiwan's full participation in the WHO.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a binding legal restriction on the use of any WHO pandemic treaty in US courts prior to Senate ratification, and added a policy statement on Taiwan's WHO participation that was not present in the introduced version.

ENFORCEMENT

New Section 6 provides that any WHO pandemic agreement deemed a treaty under Section 5 has no force or effect under US law before Senate ratification and may not be used in US courts to establish standing, a cause of action, damages, or to demonstrate whether federal agency action is arbitrary or capricious.

SCOPE

A new 'Statement of policy' section declares it is US policy to unequivocally support Taiwan's full participation in the World Health Organization.

DEFINITION

New findings (12)-(16) are added, including an explicit statement that the House of Representatives does not vote for, ratify, affirm, or consent to treaties, a citation to Article II Section 2 of the Constitution, and a quote from Federalist Paper #75 on treaty-making powers.

TECHNICAL

Section numbering is adjusted: 'Sense of Congress' moves from section 3 to section 4, and the old section 4 (deeming WHO agreements as treaties) becomes section 5. Minor capitalization and punctuation changes throughout.

Floor votes · House Sep 11, 2024

How they voted

219–199

Passed · 13 other

Total votes 431

Sep 11, 2024

D Democratic211

4 Yea 199 Nay 8

94% Nay

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican219

214 Yea 5

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Sep 17, 2024

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

upper

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 219 - 199 (Roll no. 411).

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 219 - 199 (Roll no. 411).

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

Ms. Lee (CA) moved to recommit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. (CR H5183)

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1425.

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1425 as unfinished business.

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

Mr. Davidson moved that the committee rise.

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1430, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Massie amendment No. 3.

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1430, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Foxx amendment No. 2.

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Introduced

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Ogles amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Ogles demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1430, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ogles amendment No. 1.

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1425.

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

The Speaker designated the Honorable Jefferson Van Drew to act as Chairman of the Committee.

lower

Sep 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1430 and Rule XVIII.

lower

Sep 10, 2024

Lower · Passed

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1430 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1398, H.R. 1425, H.R. 1516, H.R. 7980, H.R. 9456 and H.R. 9494. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1398, H.R. 1425, and H.R. 1516 under a structured rule and H.R. 7980, H.R. 9456, and H.R. 9494 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.

lower

Aug 30, 2024

Lower · Passed

Reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. Rept. 118-643.

lower

Jul 11, 2024

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Jul 10, 2024

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Mar 7, 2023

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

lower

Mar 7, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 59 co-sponsors