07-03-2025
Anti-China COVID lawsuit fails to get through Senate
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — State senators have deadlocked about whether to ask the South Dakota attorney general to file a lawsuit seeking $100 billion from the People's Republic of China for damages suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Concurrent Resolution 6009 claimed that the virus resulted from a genetic research project at the People's Liberation Army bioweapons BSL-4 laboratory in Wuhan, China.
It called for establishing a South Dakota COVID-19 victims relief fund that would make up to $250,000 available for each impacted person.
The resolution on a 40-28 vote cleared the South Dakota House. Republican Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer is prime sponsor.
The Senate took it up Thursday. Republican Tom Pischke, the lead sponsor in the Senate, said he believes that China launched a viral attack on the world.
Other states have brought lawsuits against China, according to Pischke, such as Missouri, which he said is seizing all China-owned assets there.
The resolution also calls for the lawsuit to name as other defendants the Chinese Community Party and the Wuhan laboratory.
'China is just the beginning of this,' Pischke said.
No other senator spoke after he finished.
The vote ended in a 17-17 tie.
Republican Amber Hulse passed the first time when the roll call reached her. She voted yes when her name was called a second time at the end.
Mark Lapka meanwhile was excused.
Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen, serving as Senate president, could have broken the tie. Instead, he declared that the measure failed.
Pischke gave notice of his intent to reconsider the vote. But when the time came, he decided to not proceed.
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