The single most thorough review of the pandemic conducted to date
WASHINGTON – Today, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic concluded its two-year investigation into the COVID-19 pandemic and released a final report titled “After Action Review of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Lessons Learned and a Path Forward.” The final report will serve as a roadmap for Congress, the Executive Branch, and the private sector to prepare for and respond to future pandemics. Since February 2023, the Select Subcommittee has sent more than 100 investigative letters, conducted more than 30 transcribed interviews and depositions, held 25 hearings and meetings, and reviewed more than one million pages of documents. Members and staff have exposed high-level corruption in America’s public health system, confirmed the most likely origin of the pandemic, held COVID-19 bad actors publicly accountable, fostered bipartisan consensus on consequential pandemic-era issues, and more. This 520-page final report details all findings of the Select Subcommittee’s investigation.
“This work will help the United States, and the world, predict the next pandemic, prepare for the next pandemic, protect ourselves from the next pandemic, and hopefully prevent the next pandemic. Members of the 119th Congress should continue and build off this work, there is more information to find and honest actions to be taken,” wrote Chairman Wenstrup in a letter to Congress. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a distrust in leadership. Trust is earned. Accountability, transparency, honesty, and integrity will regain this trust. A future pandemic requires a whole of America response managed by those without personal benefit or bias. We can always do better, and for the sake of future generations of Americans, we must. It can be done.”
On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 10:30am, the Select Subcommittee will hold a markup of the final report and officially submit the report to the Congressional record. Ahead of the markup, the Select Subcommittee will also release additional supporting materials and recommendations.
The full, 520-page final report can be found here. A summary of the information can be found below:
The Origins of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Including but Not Limited to the Federal Government’s Funding of Gain-of-Function Research
COVID-19 ORIGIN: COVID-19 most likely emerged from a laboratory in Wuhan, China. The FIVE strongest arguments in favor of the “lab leak” theory include:
- The virus possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature.
- Data shows that all COVID-19 cases stem from a single introduction into humans. This runs contrary to previous pandemics where there were multiple spillover events.
- Wuhan is home to China’s foremost SARS research lab, which has a history of conducting gain-of-function research at inadequate biosafety levels.
- Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) researchers were sick with a COVID-like virus in the fall of 2019, months before COVID-19 was discovered at the wet market.
- By nearly all measures of science, if there was evidence of a natural origin it would have
What are the key findings of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic’s report, according to Dr. Moreno?
## A Look Back:
**(Intro Music)**
**Host:** Joining me today is Dr. Sarah Moreno, an infectious disease specialist and public health expert. Dr. Moreno, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic just released a landmark report after a two-year investigation. It’s being called “The single most thorough review of the pandemic conducted to date”. What are your initial thoughts on this report and its potential impact?
**Dr. Moreno:**
It’s certainly a significant undertaking. This 520-page report reflects the subcommittee’s extensive work, including interviews, depositions, and analysis of an enormous amount of documentation.
The fact that it aims to serve as a “roadmap” for future pandemic preparedness is crucial. We saw how overwhelmed systems were during COVID-19.
This report could provide valuable lessons learned and guide us towards better prevention, response, and recovery strategies.
**Host:** Can you elaborate on some of the key findings they highlighted?
**Dr. Moreno:** They’ve touched upon several critical issues.
Public trust in institutions was significantly eroded during the pandemic, which is crucial to address for future outbreaks.
They also claim to have identified “high-level corruption” within the public health system.
This requires further investigation and transparency to restore public confidence. Confirming the most likely origin of the pandemic is another significant aspect. Understanding the source helps us prevent similar outbreaks in the future.
**Host:** Chairman Wenstrup urged the 119th Congress to continue this work, stating there’s “more information to find and honest actions to be taken.” What are some of the next steps you believe are essential?
**Dr. Moreno:** Absolutely.
Implementing the recommendations in the report is critical.
This includes strengthening public health infrastructure, investing in research, and improving communication and collaboration between government agencies and the public.
Continued bipartisan effort is vital to ensure these issues receive the attention and resources they deserve.
**Host:**
Dr. Moreno, thank you for sharing your insights on this monumental report. We hope it leads to a more prepared and resilient future for us all.
**(Outro Music)**
