Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Florida Government & Politics

Maria Elvira Salazar Wants to Protect American Intellectual Property, Build Vaccine Diplomacy

Salazar stressed her bill will protect intellectual property on the vaccine, ensure American-supplied vaccines have USA branding and will help on the diplomatic front. 

Share Story Via Text, E-Mail, Facebook or Twitter

At the end of last week, U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., introduced the “American Medical Investment Generating Overseas Security (AMIGOS) Act” which, she noted, will “protect American intellectual property and strengthen the United State’s ability to engage in vaccine diplomacy in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Salazar introduced the bill on Friday with the support of four co-sponsors including U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and Byron Donalds, R-Fla.

“The United States is leading the world’s COVID-19 response – we developed the most effective vaccines and have made the largest contributions to global health organizations like COVAX and GAVI to deliver vaccines directly to vulnerable communities. However, the United States has no strategic surplus vaccine diplomacy strategy,” Salazar’s office noted. “Currently, the recipients of American-funded and American-provided vaccines through COVAX and GAVI are unaware that they are coming from the United States since they are being distributed through global organizations. Meanwhile, China and Russia are actively engaging in vaccine diplomacy which, if not properly addressed, could further entrench adversarial presence close to home in the Western Hemisphere, and reshape the geopolitical landscape for decades to come.”

Salazar stressed her bill will protect intellectual property on the vaccine, ensure American-supplied vaccines have USA branding and will help on the diplomatic front.

“Rather than crushing free market innovation, the U.S. should be proposing bold surplus vaccine donation plans, increase awareness of current U.S. efforts, and ramp up vaccine manufacturing,” said Salazar on Friday. “Our most vulnerable allies and neighbors, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean are counting on us to get this right and slow viral spread and COVID-19 mutations. I’ve introduced the AMIGOS Act to develop a strategy for effective U.S. vaccine diplomacy and counter Communist China’s and Putin’s Russia’s growing influence in our hemisphere.”

The bill was sent to the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, on which Salazar sits. The bill was also sent to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. Senate.

 

Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.

Author

  • Kevin Derby

    Originally from Jacksonville, Kevin Derby is a contributing writer for Florida Daily and covers politics across Florida.

    View all posts
Share Story Via Text, E-Mail, Facebook or Twitter

Follow Us on Social Media

Archives

Related Stories

Florida News

The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) has released its annual report card for the first session of the 118th Congress of the United States. The...

Election News

A poll known for right-leaning sample audiences revealed recent poll numbers that show 80% of voters surveyed said that they don’t think Trump’s choice...

Political News

Below is a statement from the office of Florida’s U.S. Senators, Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Rick Scott, regarding the U.S. Army Corps of...

Florida Government & Politics

The Institute for Legislative Analysis (ILA) just released the voting trends on Florida U.S Congressional members. Their latest analysis found that “culture war” issues...

Florida News

Florida Senator Rick Scott was joined by fellow Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Alaska’s Senators Lisa Murkowski (R), and Dan Sullivan (R), to...

Florida News

Below is an official statement from Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) regarding a bill he submitted seeking tax relief on flood insurance. “As flood insurance...

Florida News

In 2015, conservatives inside the republican party founded the House Freedom Caucus. The group was an alternative that would buck the establishment when it...

Florida News

Last week, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., joined “Hannity With Guest Host Kayleigh McEnany” on Fox News Channel to discuss legislative solutions to the...