Washington, D.C. - House Energy & Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Subcommittee on Health Republican Leader Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Republican Leader Morgan Griffith (R-VA) sent a letter Friday afternoon to Dr. Peter Daszak with EcoHealth Alliance (EHA) requesting information and documents that could be useful to a comprehensive investigation into the origins of COVID-19.
Committee Republicans are demanding a thorough and independent investigation be done in order to learn more about how the pandemic started.
EcoHealth Alliance has long partnered with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in researching bat coronaviruses and EHA is the only U.S. partner of the WIV’s eight international cohorts. Additionally, EHA has shared some of the funding it has received from the National Institutes of Health with the WIV for several years.
“We believe through its research activities, collaborations, and EHA’s relationship with the WIV as a federal award subrecipient, that EHA has information and documents that will provide insight into the WIV’s bat coronavirus information and pathways for further research in this area," the letter says.
The NIH suspended a grant to EHA in July 2020 until certain conditions were met regarding its work with WIV. However, it appears EHA has not cooperated with the NIH since the grant is still shown to be suspended.
The EHA has maintained its belief that a lab leak was not the cause of the coronavirus pandemic. “Since EHA is confident that a lab leak is not the cause, we expect you to welcome the opportunity to share any and all information, documents, and expertise you have related to bat coronavirus research at the WIV," the letter says.
The leaders are requesting the information be handed over to the Committee by May 17, 2021.
Note: This request follows a letter sent by Leaders Rodgers, Griffith, and Guthrie to the NIH requesting additional information and for an independent, science-driven investigation to commence.
