Texas Congressman Chip Roy Introduces Bill to Award Congressional Gold Medal to Chinese COVID Whistleblower

On April 9, 2020, Texas Congressman Chip Roy introduced H.R. 6471, a bill that posthumously awards a Congressional Medal to Dr. Li Wenliang.

Dr. Li was the daring doctor who first called attention to the spread of the Wuhan Virus. He then warned his medical colleagues over social media about the spread of the virus.

Roy noted that Li “did so in the face of the communist Chinese government that tried nearly everything to stop him. He was detained, questioned, and forced to sign a document confessing that he spread illegal rumors.”

Regardless of the virus spreading, Li continued treating patients in Wuhan. In a tragic turn, Li fell to the virus.

Before he died, Li sent a text message to the New York Times: “If the officials had disclosed information about the epidemic earlier, I think it would have been a lot better. There should be more openness and transparency.”

Roy concluded:

I am proud to author legislation to honor Dr. Wenliang — a truly courageous doctor who saved countless lives by telling the world about the dangers of coronavirus. Awarding Congress’s highest civilian award to Dr. Li would not only honor his brave action to warn other about the spread of COVID-19, but also call global attention to China’s lack of transparency and censorship of speech.

The Texas congressman reminded his followers on April 14 that he introduced this bill in a time when hysteria is so high and any kind of positive action is being drowned out by media noise.

He tweeted, “I have introduced legislation to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Li Wenliang. Dr. Wenliang was the brave Wuhan doctor who first sounded the alarm about the spread of #coronavirus.”

Let’s hope the rest of Congress joins in Roy in co-sponsoring this bill.

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