COVID-19 origin declassification bill heads to Biden's desk

A bill to declassify information about the pandemic's origins passed the House on March 10 and now heads to President Joe Biden's desk, according to The Hill. 

The House passed the COVID-19 Origins Act of 2023 in a 419-0 vote. The Senate also passed the bill unanimously earlier this month. 

The bill would require the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information on COVID-19's origins within 90 days and provide a report to Congress with "redactions only as necessary to protect sources and methods." 

President Biden has not stated whether he will sign the bill. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president is committed to uncovering the pandemic's origins but also wants to protect classified information, according to NPR.  

Lawmakers' push to declassify COVID-19 information comes after the Energy Department identified a lab leak as the most likely cause of the COVID-19 pandemic in late February, though officials said the conclusion was made with "low confidence." 

 

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