Total Score: 850/2,100 points (40.5% of maximum possible score)
The Covid-19 Origin Act of 2023 significantly expands government power, increases government spending, and has a moderate impact on businesses and individuals. While it addresses the critical need to investigate the origins of COVID-19, it falls short of the goal to reduce government interference and enhance personal freedom.
| Criteria | Score (out of 100) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Regulatory Language and New Powers | 70 | Grants new responsibilities to the government to investigate the origins of COVID-19. |
| 2. Mandates on Individuals or Businesses | 40 | Imposes some reporting requirements on businesses and research institutions. |
| 3. Repeal or Modification of Existing Laws | 10 | Does not significantly modify existing laws. |
| 4. Funding Provisions and Government Control | 60 | Allocates funding for investigations and oversight activities. |
| 5. Powers Granted to Government Agencies | 75 | Grants discretionary powers to agencies involved in the investigation. |
| 6. Penalties and Compliance Mechanisms | 50 | Specifies penalties for non-compliance with reporting requirements. |
| 7. Reporting Requirements | 65 | Introduces new reporting requirements for government agencies and private entities. |
| 8. Sunset Clauses | 20 | Includes some sunset clauses, limiting the duration of certain provisions. |
| 9. Authority and Oversight | 70 | Delegates authority to federal agencies to conduct investigations. |
| 10. Judicial Review | 40 | Provides provisions for judicial review of the actions mandated by the act. |
| 11. Emergency Powers | 30 | Grants some emergency powers to government agencies for rapid response. |
| 12. Exemptions and Waivers | 20 | Offers limited exemptions from existing regulations. |
| 13. Impact Assessments | 55 | Includes assessments of the expected effects on government control and cost. |
| 14. Spending and Taxes | 70 | Increases spending to fund the investigation, with some impact on taxes. |
| 15. Market Manipulation | 30 | Minor impact on the market through incentives for research. |
| 16. Tax Code and Reporting | 25 | Minimal impact on the tax code. |
| 17. Areas Outside Original Purpose | 20 | Largely stays within the original purpose of investigating COVID-19 origins. |
| 18. Reducing Government Power | 30 | Increases government power through new responsibilities and oversight. |
| 19. Impact on Free Markets | 40 | Some impact on free markets due to increased oversight and reporting. |
| 20. Personal Freedom | 30 | Minor impact on personal freedoms related to data collection and reporting. |
| 21. Reducing Spending and Debt | 30 | Increases spending without addressing the national debt. |