# 116-hr-6863: COVID–19 Accountability Act

116-hr-6863, COVID–19 Accountability Act, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9] (R-GA); status Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6863
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-6863
- Congress: 116
- Title: COVID–19 Accountability Act
- Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced: 2020-05-14
- Sponsor: Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9] (R-GA)
- Cosponsors: 32
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

COVID-19 Accountability Act This bill authorizes sanctions in relation to the Chinese government's response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak. It also increases the research tax credit and imposes requirements related to the acquisition of items for the Strategic National Stockpile. The President shall periodically certify to Congress that the Chinese government (1) is cooperating with efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreak, (2) has prohibited wet markets, and (3) has released and dropped all charges for anyone involved in protests in Hong Kong related to COVID-19. If the President cannot make such a certification, the President may (1) impose sanctions on Chinese government officials, entities owned or controlled by the Chinese government, and individuals affiliated with such entities; or (2) prohibit Chinese nationals from obtaining student visas (i.e., F and M visas) or exchange visitor visas (i.e., J visas). With respect to the research tax credit, the bill increases the alternative simplified credit from 14% to 20% of qualified research expenses above a certain threshold. The Department of Health and Human Services generally may not purchase personal protective equipment, critical medical supplies, or certain fabric products not produced in the United States for the Strategic National Stockpile. However, this restriction shall not apply if (1) there is not a sufficient amount of U.S.-produced items available at U.S. market prices when needed, or (2) the purchase is worth less than $150,000.

## Cosponsors (32)

- Rep. Cheney, Liz [R-WY-At Large] (R-WY), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8] (R-GA), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17] (R-FL), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3] (R-MS), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4] (R-SC), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS] (R-KS), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12] (R-OH), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walker, Mark [R-NC-6] (R-NC), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Riggleman, Denver [R-VA-5] (R-VA), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS-4] (R-MS), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tipton, Scott R. [R-CO-3] (R-CO), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gibbs, Bob [R-OH-7] (R-OH), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12] (R-FL), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3] (R-LA), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-26] (R-FL), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12] (R-GA), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Waltz, Michael [R-FL-6] (R-FL), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4] (R-MO), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN] (R-IN), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5] (R-FL), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bishop, Dan [R-NC-9] (R-NC), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Rodney [R-IL-13] (R-IL), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stivers, Steve [R-OH-15] (R-OH), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK-2] (R-OK), 2020-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cook, Paul [R-CA-8] (R-CA), 2020-05-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wright, Ron [R-TX-6] (R-TX), 2020-05-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] (R-TX), 2020-05-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1] (R-MS), 2020-05-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Duncan, Jeff [R-SC-3] (R-SC), 2020-05-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16] (R-PA), 2020-05-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Emmer, Tom [R-MN-6] (R-MN), 2020-05-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lesko, Debbie [R-AZ-8] (R-AZ), 2020-07-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-4305: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act
- 116-hr-748: CARES Act
- 116-hr-7278: JUSTICE Act
- 116-hr-6742: Protecting Life in Crisis Act
- 116-hr-3495: Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act
- 116-hr-2423: Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act

## Sources
- [116-hr-6863 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6863)

## Related
- [116-hr-4305: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-4305)
- [116-hr-748: CARES Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-748)
- [116-hr-7278: JUSTICE Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7278)
- [116-hr-6742: Protecting Life in Crisis Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6742)
- [116-hr-3495: Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-3495)
- [116-hr-2423: Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2423)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6863 (as of 2025-11-18).