U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), along with 15 of his fellow Senate Republican colleagues, have introduced a bill to press for an international investigation into the origins of COVID-19 at Wuhan-based laboratories that partook in hazardous coronavirus research.

The Coronavirus Origin Validation, Investigation, and Determination (COVID) Act of 2022, authored by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), would allow for the sanctioning of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) should the dictatorial regime impede investigative efforts within 90 days of the legislation’s enactment.

Tuberville slammed the CCP over what he asserted to be their lack of transparency into the genesis of the virus and called for holding it accountable for the loss of life caused by COVID-19.

“Since day one, the Chinese government has been anything but transparent and credible as we pushed for answers on the origins of this virus. That must change,” declared Tuberville. “This legislation will hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for the American lives taken by COVID and make it clear that actions will be met with consequences.”

According to Tuberville’s Senate office, the COVID Act would place sanctions upon the leadership of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and its affiliated institutes and laboratories, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Additionally, the bill would suspend federal research funding for studies that involve the CAS. If enacted, it would also prohibit gain-of-function virus research cooperation between any American citizen or institution that receives federal funding and any Chinese-based individual or institution.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL