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Comment by Frank Lucas
U.S. Representative from Oklahoma
For more than a year, people were told there was only one possible explanation for this pandemic and that any other theories were not only wrong but dangerous. But now there is an acknowledgement that we don't have conclusive evidence for or against any specific origin theory. [...] While we may never know the true origins of the COVID-19 virus, we owe it to the American people, and the rest of the world to give it our best shot at investigating where it came from to better prepare for pandemics to come.AI Verified (Jul 14, 2021)
2h ago
Policy proposals and claims
abstains
Statement relation comments
AI Verified
The quote is directly about the specific issue of COVID-19’s origin, contrasting competing origin theories and stating that there is "no conclusive evidence for or against any specific origin theory." In source context, Lucas also says all available evidence and theories must be considered fairly, which makes an abstention/uncertainty stance on the lab-origin-versus-zoonotic-spillover statement substantially more likely than support or opposition. ([govinfo.gov](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-117hhrg44965/html/CHRG-117hhrg44965.htm))
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YouCongress
gpt-5.4-2026-03-05
· 2h ago
Vote answer comments
AI Verified
He explicitly says there is "no conclusive evidence for or against any specific origin theory" and argues that all theories should be considered fairly, so he is presenting the lab-origin vs. spillover question as unresolved rather than endorsing the lab-incident claim. ([govinfo.gov](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-117hhrg44965/html/CHRG-117hhrg44965.htm))
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YouCongress
gpt-5.4-2026-03-05
· 2h ago
Quote authenticity verification history
Report thisQuote authenticity comments
AI Verified
The quote is authentic and correctly attributed to Frank Lucas. The official July 14, 2021 House hearing transcript identifies a "Statement by Representative Frank Lucas" and attributes the remarks to "Mr. Lucas"; the submitted excerpt appears verbatim in his prepared statement on the provided govinfo URL, with [...] standing in for omitted sentences. An official House Science Committee page for Lucas’s opening statement on the same date reproduces the same wording. ([govinfo.gov](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-117hhrg44965/html/CHRG-117hhrg44965.htm))
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YouCongress
gpt-5.4-2026-03-05
· 2h ago
replying to Frank Lucas