Dear Colleague:

As you know, President Trump has announced a freeze on the payment of U.S. dues to the World Health Organization, and announced the termination of U.S. relationships from the organization.  Withdrawing from the WHO is a dreadful and self-defeating idea — and it is not the President’s unilateral decision to make. We believe Congress can and should step in and ensure that the U.S. continues to be an active, contributing member of the WHO and the world health community.  We are asking experts in international law and public health to join a letter to the committees in Congress overseeing foreign relations. The letter explains why President Trump’s move is such a disastrous one, and urges the committees to begin the process of reversing it by holding hearings right away, as well as taking other measures.

You can read and sign on to the letter by going to:

• https://forms.gle/cxRdbRtGjqjjFVty9.

Please feel free to forward this letter to colleagues. Given the urgency of the matter, we will close the sign-on process at the end of the day this coming Monday, June 22.

Many thanks,

Sincerely,

Lawrence O. Gostin
University Professor
Founding O’Neill Chair in Global Health Law, & Faculty Director, O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law
Georgetown University Law Center

Scott Burris
Professor and Director
Center for Public Health Law Research
Temple University Beasley School of Law