Statement on Signing the COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023

Statement on Signing the COVID–19 Origin Act of 2023

March 20, 2023

Today, I am pleased to sign into law S. 619, the "COVID–19 Origin Act of 2023." I share the Congress's goal of releasing as much information as possible about the origin of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19). In 2021, I directed the Intelligence Community to use every tool at its disposal to investigate the origin of COVID–19, and that work is ongoing. We need to get to the bottom of COVID–19's origins to help ensure we can better prevent future pandemics. My Administration will continue to review all classified information relating to COVID–19's origins, including potential links to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. In implementing this legislation, my Administration will declassify and share as much of that information as possible, consistent with my constitutional authority to protect against the disclosure of information that would harm national security.

Joseph R. Biden Jr.

The White House, March 20, 2023.

NOTE: An original was not available for verification of the content of this statement. S. 619, approved March 20, was assigned Public Law No. 118–2.

Categories: Bill Signings and Vetoes : COVID–19 Origin Act of 2023, signing statement. Subjects: COVID–19 Origin Act of 2023; COVID–19 pandemic; COVID–19, disease origins. DCPD Number: DCPD202300208.

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