COVID Act of 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 21, 2021

Coronavirus Origin Validation, Investigation, and Determination Act of 2021 or the COVID Act of 2021

This bill requires the President to impose sanctions and take other actions related to COVID-19 if certain conditions are not met.

Specifically, if the President is unable to certify within 90 days of this bill's enactment that China's government has allowed a transparent international forensic investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and certain laboratories in the city of Wuhan, the President must (1) impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against individuals with leadership positions in the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), (2) prohibit federal funding for collaborative projects between U.S.-based researchers and CAS researchers in any academic field, and (3) prohibit U.S.-based researchers and institutions that receive federal funding from engaging in certain research on viruses with individuals or institutions based in China.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] · R–FL

Committees

Foreign Relations Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Jun 21, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Jun 21, 2021
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jun 21, 2021 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

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Source last updated: Jan 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.2148 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.2148, 117th Congress: COVID Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2148

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-06-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s2148/BILLS-117s2148is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-01-10T01:24:10Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.2148 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.2148 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.2148, 117th Congress: COVID Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2148

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-06-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s2148/BILLS-117s2148is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-01-10T01:24:10Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2148 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.2148 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.2148, 117th Congress: COVID Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2148

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-06-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s2148/BILLS-117s2148is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-01-10T01:24:10Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2148 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.2148 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2148, 117th Congress: COVID Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2148

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-06-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s2148/BILLS-117s2148is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-01-10T01:24:10Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2148 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.