WASHINGTON, D.C. – Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) and House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) have sent a letter to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The letter requests a briefing from the National Security Council (NSC) regarding the Biden administration’s response to the increasing number of anomalous health incidents (AHIs), commonly known as 'Havana Syndrome,' occurring within the United States.
In their letter, the Chairmen state, “The Committee has heard testimony from a variety of stakeholders, including victims who have suffered from the debilitating ailments caused by AHIs, and attorneys who represent dozens of AHI victims. For instance, just this past May, the Committee’s Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence held a hearing with a nongovernmental panel of witnesses on the topic of AHIs that have taken place here in the homeland. The testimony from the witnesses painted a chilling picture of the threats our nation faces from these perceived acts of foreign aggression. We have also held numerous classified briefings related to AHIs, one with AHI victims and two with government agencies working to combat and treat AHI incidents. That being said, it still remains unclear how the Biden-Harris Administration is working to address AHIs.”
The Chairmen continue, “These incidents are an assault on our nation’s sovereignty. We implore the Administration to take decisive action to investigate the causation and attribution of AHIs, disrupt and deter the operations of any foreign entities conducting these attacks, and send a clear message to the world that these actions will not be tolerated. We also ask that the administration be fully transparent with the American people on the gravity these threats pose.”
They conclude by referencing President Biden's statement after signing the HAVANA Act of 2021 into law: “After signing the HAVANA Act of 2021 into law, President Biden stated in a press release that ‘addressing these incidents are top priority for my Administration’ and that the Administration plans to bring ‘to bear the full resources of the U.S. Government to make available first-class medical care to those affected and to get to the bottom of these incidents, including to determine cause and who is responsible.’ We ask that Administration uphold this commitment and work prioritize getting bottom who what behind attacks.”
Since 2014, several U.S. diplomatic, military, intelligence officials families reported medical symptoms affected auditory sensory motor skills. These instances became public late 2016 after group Canadian diplomats U.S. government employees families assigned U.S Embassy Havana Cuba began experiencing similar symptoms.
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In May Subcommittee Counterterrorism Law Enforcement Intelligence led Chairman Pfluger held hearing nongovernmental panel witnesses examine AHIs took place homeland addition hearing subcommittee held classified briefing victims AHI April two briefings governmental agencies working combat treat AHI incidents July.