A bill to require continued participation by the United States in the World Health Organization, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Tammy Baldwin and 10 co-sponsors

The bill would formalize and strengthen the United States’ ongoing participation with the World Health Organization in global health collaboration and response.

Introduced in Senate

Summary of Bill: S.4929 (119th Congress)

Purpose and intent

The bill is titled to require continued participation by the United States in the World Health Organization (WHO) and to address related purposes. In essence, it seeks to ensure that the U.S. maintains an ongoing role and engagement with the WHO rather than withdrawing or suspending participation.

Key provisions and changes

Reaffirms or mandates continued U.S. participation in the World Health Organization.

Establishes policy direction or statutory requirement guiding U.S. engagement with the WHO, potentially including collaboration on global health security, disease surveillance, and public health responses.

May address related administrative or diplomatic mechanisms to sustain relations with international health bodies (specifics would be in the text of the bill, such as reporting, consultations, or funding considerations).

Note: The summary above reflects the bill’s stated objective of continued participation. The actual provisions (e.g., specific duties, reporting requirements, or conditions) would be detailed in the bill’s text.

Who/what would be affected

United States government agencies involved in global health and international relations (e.g., Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Agency for International Development, and the State Department) would be responsible for implementing or aligning with the mandate.

The World Health Organization and its joint activities with the United States on global health initiatives, outbreaks response, and health surveillance would be directly affected in terms of continued U.S. involvement.

Stakeholders in global health policy, including public health researchers, funding partners, and international health collaborators, would operate within the framework set by the bill.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations on June 24, 2026.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations on the same date.

Sponsored (and co-sponsored) by a large bipartisan slate of senators, including Amy Klobuchar, Jacky Rosen, Tim Kaine, Chris Van Hollen, Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Coons, Jeff Merkley, Cory Booker, Tammy Baldwin, John Hickenlooper, and Alex Padilla, indicating broad support across party lines.

As a bill in the early stage, it would move through committee consideration, potential amendments, then floor debate and voting, before moving to the House (if applicable) and potential conference actions with the House version.

Potential impact and considerations

If enacted, the bill would formalize and potentially strengthen the United States' ongoing participation in the WHO, which could influence international health diplomacy, funding allocations, and joint programs.

Could affect timelines for U.S. participation commitments, reporting duties, and oversight related to international health collaborations.

May have budgetary implications depending on any authorizations or appropriations tied to WHO related activities (the text would specify funding provisions, if any).

If you’d like, I can pull out and summarize the specific sections (e.g., exact operative language, any funding provisions, reporting requirements) once the bill text is available.