III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 663 

Supporting mask-wearing as an important measure to limit the spread of 

the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19). 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 29, 2020 

Mr. TOOMEY (for himself and Mr. BENNET) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 

and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting mask-wearing as an important measure to limit 

the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19). 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes that the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 

(referred to in this preamble as ‘‘COVID–19’’) occurs 

primarily through respiratory droplets; 

Whereas research shows that shedding of the virus that 

causes COVID–19 can occur 2 to 3 days before the onset 

of symptoms; 

Whereas research conducted long before the COVID–19 pandemic has shown the utility of wearing masks in providing protection against the transmission of respiratory 

infections; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 663 IS 

Whereas various types of cloth masks, including masks made 

of cotton, gauze, and other fabrics, reduced infection 

rates among health care workers and others during the 

Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 and the Manchurian 

plague of 1920 through 1921, and were used by health 

care workers and others to protect against tuberculosis in 

the 1930s and 1940s; 

Whereas a study published on July 9, 2008, that tested the 

efficacy of homemade face masks in reducing respiratory 

infections among the general population concluded that 

any type of general-use mask is likely to decrease viral 

exposure and infection risk on a population level; 

Whereas a study published on May 22, 2013, that attempted 

to test the protective value of homemade masks compared 

to commercial masks in an influenza pandemic concluded 

that homemade masks would be better than no facial protection at all; 

Whereas, on April 3, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention recommended that the people of the 

United States wear nonmedical, cloth masks in public 

places; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has 

found that cloth face coverings fashioned from household 

items can substantially reduce the dispersion of exhaled 

droplets and provide acceptable breathability; 

Whereas a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from May 11 through May 13, 2020, 

found that 76 percent of adults support mask-wearing 

outside of the home; 

Whereas a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on July 17, 2020, found no secVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:57 Jul 30, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR663.IS SR663

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 663 IS 

ondary cases of COVID–19 in 139 mask-wearing clients 

of 2 symptomatic mask-wearing hair stylists with confirmed cases of COVID–19; 

Whereas the benefit of each additional cloth mask worn by 

members of the public has been estimated to be between 

$3,000 and $6,000 due to the ability of masks to slow 

COVID–19 transmission and, as a result, to decrease 

mortality relating to the virus that causes COVID–19; 

and 

Whereas a study published in BMJ found that mask-wearing 

by both infected individuals and the contacts of those individuals to be 79 percent effective in reducing COVID– 

19 transmission: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the importance of mask-wearing 

3 in limiting the transmission of the Coronavirus Dis4 ease 2019 (referred to in this resolution as 

5 ‘‘COVID–19’’); 

6 (2) recognizes that medical-grade masks should 

7 be reserved for use in health care settings and 

8 among vulnerable populations throughout the 

9 COVID–19 pandemic; 

10 (3) recognizes that mask-wearing should be 

11 coupled with other measures recommended by the 

12 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and 

13 State and local public health agencies, including fre14 quent handwashing and physical distancing, to fur15 ther reduce the risk of COVID–19 transmission; and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 663 IS 

1 (4) encourages the people of the United States 

2 to wear masks in indoor public places, in accordance 

3 with the guidelines established by the Centers for 

4 Disease Control and Prevention, at times when phys5 ical distancing is not allowable to protect against un6 known transmission of COVID–19. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS