Defeat Pandemic Propaganda Act of 2020

over 200,000 Americans have died of COVID–19;

there is no vaccine for COVID–19 approved by the Food and Drug Administration;

on August 31, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services signed an approximately $250,000,000 contract for a public service announcement and advertising campaign to, in part, “defeat despair and inspire hope, sharing best practices for businesses to operate in the new normal and instill confidence to return to work and restart the economy” amidst the COVID–19 pandemic; and

a presidential election is to be held on November 3, 2020, approximately 2 months from the date the contract was signed.

a public service announcement and advertising campaign to promote a return to previous activities amidst the COVID–19 pandemic could encourage Americans to defy recommendations by Federal, State, and local public health authorities; and

a public service announcement and advertising campaign promoting a positive outlook on a pandemic that has resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 Americans, to air in the weeks preceding a presidential election, would be an unethical use of Federal funds.

to positively influence public perception regarding the COVID–19 pandemic;

to misrepresent facts regarding the COVID–19 pandemic; or

to encourage engagement in activities that carry an undue risk of contracting COVID–19.