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Bill

HR 3

Requesting an inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Butler and 8 co-sponsors

West Virginia urges Congress to establish a federal investigative task force to probe COVID-19 origins and responses and to pursue accountability and corrective actions.

To House Health and Human Resources
#resolutions
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Bill Summary · HR 3

Overview

  • Bill: HR 3
  • Jurisdiction: West Virginia
  • Session: 2026
  • Title: Requesting an inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Introduced: January 20, 2026
  • Primary sponsors: Delegates Ridenour, Butler, Ward, Mallow, Jennings, Mazzocchi, Kimble, Holstein, Masters, Coop-Gonzalez, and Martin
  • Co-sponsors: Elías Coop-González; Buck Jennings; Jim Butler; Margitta Mazzocchi; Josh Holstein; Bill Ridenour; Phil Mallow; Laura Kimble; Ian Masters
  • Referral: Health and Human Resources → Rules

Purpose and Intent

HR 3 seeks to establish and empower a combined investigative task force at the federal level (the U.S. Congress) to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government and public health responses to it. The resolution urges coordination with others (state, national, and international bodies) and recommends that the task force be authorized to refer criminal charges when warranted and to recommend corrective actions to recover from the pandemic, mitigate future pandemics, and hold accountable those entities perceived to have caused or mishandled the crisis.

Key stated motivations include:
- Recognizing ongoing adverse effects of COVID-19 on West Virginians.
- Highlighting concerns about vaccine-related adverse events, employment impacts from vaccine mandates, business closures due to public health measures, and what the sponsors view as insufficient explanation for pandemic rules and coercion.
- Advocating for open discussion and accountability, including addressing censorship or silencing of dissenting viewpoints.

Key Provisions and Provisions at a Glance

  • Calls for a combined investigative task force by the United States Congress.
  • The task force would:
    • Coordinate with other state, national, and international investigations and activities.
    • Investigate the origins of the pandemic and the public health response.
    • Recommend corrective actions to recover from the pandemic and reduce risk of future pandemics.
    • Recommend accountability measures for entities deemed responsible for causing the pandemic or for ineffective responses.
    • Have the authority to refer criminal charges to appropriate authorities when warranted.
  • The resolution expresses a belief that such an inquiry could address ongoing harms and provide a framework for accountability and future preparedness.
  • The bill does not itself authorize spending, create a state program, or impose new duties on West Virginia state agencies; rather, it requests the federal-level investigation and coordination.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • West Virginia residents and interests: The resolution centers on safeguarding public health, economic impacts, and civil liberties as perceived by the sponsors.
  • Federal investigative framework: It seeks to influence or prompt a congressional investigation that would involve national and international entities and potentially affect federal agencies and policies related to pandemic origins, response, and accountability.
  • Stakeholders in the vaccine and public-health policy sphere: The resolution references adverse vaccine events, employment consequences of mandates, and business impacts, signaling an emphasis on scrutiny of these areas.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Introduced and referred to the committee on Health and Human Resources, then Rules.
  • Timeline: No specific dates or deadlines are provided in the text beyond the introduction date (January 20, 2026).
  • Procedural notes:
    • As a House Resolution, the measure expresses the will of the West Virginia House of Delegates and does not itself create binding state law.
    • The resolution requests the federal Congress to establish a task force and directs consideration of criminal referrals and corrective actions, but does not commit state resources or establish a WV state investigation.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • If adopted by the WV House and forwarded or supported by the Legislature, it would symbolize state-level urging for a comprehensive federal inquiry into COVID-19 origins, responses, and accountability mechanisms.
  • The resolution could influence public and political discourse by emphasizing transparency, discussion of dissenting views, and accountability for pandemic-related decisions.
  • It may raise expectations among supporters for federal action, and could become a point of contention among opponents who view calls for such inquiries differently.
  • There is no provision for state-level investigative actions, funding, or enforcement; the measure is principally ceremonial and advisory in nature at the state level, aiming to shape federal inquiry priorities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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