It’s almost exactly two years since we first exposed how U.S. taxpayers were unwittingly footing the bill for dangerous coronavirus experiments on animals at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). Since then, White Coat Waste Project (WCW) and its supporters have been relentlessly urging lawmakers to take action, and we’re getting results.

This Wednesday, the Senate unanimously voted in favor of an amendment by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), banning taxpayer funds from being used for dangerous gain-of-function experiments in China.

This vote brings us one step closer to ensuring that this never happens in the future and prohibits taxpayer dollars from being used to fund dangerous and unnecessary research in China…https://t.co/PemVVHQzPr

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) May 4, 2022

Gain-of-function (GOF) experiments are designed to make viruses more transmissible and more dangerous. Many experts believe that an accidental leak related to taxpayer-funded gain-of-function coronavirus experiments on mice at the Wuhan Animal Lab may be responsible for the years-long Covid pandemic that swept the world.

We’re opposed to taxpayer funding for this risky research — and so are a majority of Americans, with 59% of Republicans and 60% of Democrats wanting to defund it. Thankfully, elected officials from both parties are hearing their constituents loud and clear and taking steps to do just that.

If reading the news about Senator Paul’s amendment gives you a feeling of déjà vu…you’re not alone. Last year, Sen. Paul offered an amendment to ban gain-of-function research in China, which was also unanimously approved by the Senate. The latest vote is part of ongoing negotiations to finalize this bill and get it to the President’s desk.

Last year, in its coverage of Senator Paul’s amendment, The Hill wrote: “Fauci and Paul clashed over the role of a virology lab in Wuhan, China, in the origins of COVID-19. With the help from the White Coat Waste Project, the first to point out that tax funds were being sent to the Wuhan Institute, Paul was able to press Fauci on the theory.”

We’ve led the charge to defund risky research, helping secure a critical amendment in a military spending bill that prevents the Department of Defense from funding experiments performed by shady nonprofit EcoHealth Alliance (EHA) in China at places like the Wuhan Animal Lab.

The #Senate adopted the Paul motion to instruct conferees in re: to H.R. 4521, USICA/COMPETES (gain of function research) by a voice vote.

— Senate Press Gallery (@SenatePress) May 4, 2022

The pandemic made it clear to everyone just how dangerous these experiments can be…so why tempt fate?

U.S. taxpayers should not be forced to fund dangerous and cruel gain-of-function animal experiments, especially in China where there’s no accountability and transparency. That’s also why we support the AFAR Act, which would cut off all funding for animal experiments in countries deemed ‘foreign adversaries.’ We think it’s a common-sense proposition. If you agree, take action! Tell Congress to pass the AFAR Act today!