House GOP introduces bill to end COVID-19 health emergency

House Republican lawmakers on Tuesday introduced a bill to end the Department of Health and Human Services' COVID-19 public health emergency after the agency announced last week that it would extend the declaration for a further 90 days.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is over. Despite President Biden admitting this in September, his administration just authorized the 12th extension of the COVID-19 public health emergency," said Kentucky GOP Rep. Brett Guthrie, according to the Epoch Times. "It is long overdue for President Biden to end the COVID-19 public health emergency and relinquish the emergency powers that he just renewed again."

Guthrie introduced the "Pandemic Is Over Act," which would end the HHS declaration. The agency has renewed the emergency without interruption since 2020. The Kentucky lawmaker indicated his intent was to stop further extensions by "forcing the Biden administration to finally release and execute a plan" to end the emergency.

The bill's title appears to reference remarks from President Joe Biden in which he asserted that the COVID-19 pandemic had ended. Guthrie referenced said comments in his statement.

President Joe Biden will likely veto the legislation should it reach his desk.