Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect 
to an infectious disease that is, or is reasonably believed 
to be, caused by a pathogen transmissible by respiratory 
droplets expelled from the nose or mouth.’’. 
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 46301 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(5) by inserting ‘‘section 
50202, section 50203,’’ after ‘‘chapter 451,’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)(2) by inserting ‘‘, section 
50202, section 50203,’’ after ‘‘of this title’’. 
SEC. 3. REGULATIONS FOR AIR CARRIERS TO REDUCE 
SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In coordination with the Director 
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 
Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring each air 
carrier operating under part 121 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations, and operating aircraft with a seating ca-
pacity of 20 or more to implement appropriate measures 
on a flight in air transportation for the purpose of reduc-
ing the likelihood of any passenger or crewmember con-
tracting an infectious disease. Such regulations shall be 
effective only during the period of a national emergency 
declared by the President under the National Emergencies 
Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to an infectious 
disease. 
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(b) DEADLINES.—In conducting the rulemaking re-
quired under subsection (a), the Secretary shall issue— 
(1) a notice of proposed rulemaking not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act; and 
(2) a final rule not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the rulemaking 
proceeding required under subsection (a), the Secretary 
may consult with the heads of such other Federal depart-
ments or agencies as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
SEC. 4. STUDY ON TRANSMISSION OF INFECTIOUS DIS-
EASES IN AIRPLANE CABINS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall seek 
to enter into an agreement with the National Academies 
to conduct a study on the transmission of infectious dis-
eases, including respiratory diseases, in the cabins of pas-
senger airplanes. 
(b) PARAMETERS OF STUDY.—The study required 
under subsection (a) shall consider, at a minimum— 
(1) air flow patterns and humidity levels in the 
cabins of passenger airplanes and the extent to 
which such patterns and humidity levels increase or 
decrease the possibility that a passenger may be ex-
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posed to an airborne pathogen communicated by an-
other individual on board a passenger airplane; 
(2) how uniformly the cabin air supply is com-
pletely exchanged and whether air in certain areas 
of the cabin is exchanged more quickly or slowly 
than in other areas of the cabin; 
(3) the extent to which various recirculation 
systems and the respective filtration systems of such 
recirculation systems increase or decrease the likeli-
hood of exposure to a pathogen; 
(4) 
the 
extent 
to 
which 
the 
use 
of 
preconditioned air during embarkation and disem-
barkation changes the likelihood of a passenger’s ex-
posure to a pathogen as opposed to the use of air 
conditioning packs fed by the auxiliary power unit; 
and 
(5) other variables that determine the likelihood 
of an individual’s exposure to a pathogen on a pas-
senger airplane, including the use or location of per-
sonal air outlets, seating location, load factor, move-
ment of cabin crewmembers and passengers through-
out the cabin during the flight, embarkation, and 
disembarkation, testing and replacement frequency 
of air filters, types of face coverings worn, commonly 
touched surfaces, use or location of lavatories, and 
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such other variables as the National Academies con-
sider relevant. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall— 
(1) submit to the congressional committees of 
jurisdiction a report on the results of the study re-
quired under this section; and 
(2) publish such report on the website of the 
Federal Aviation Administration. 
SEC. 5. AIR CARRIER PRACTICES AND AIRPLANE DESIGN 
IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Based on the results of the study 
required under section 4 and such other information as 
the Administrator considers relevant, the Administrator 
shall identify and evaluate prospective air carrier practices 
or procedures, and prospective features in the design or 
configuration of cabin surfaces and air conditioning and 
pressurization systems in passenger airplanes, that would 
reduce the extent of transmission of pathogens within the 
cabin. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) FOLLOW-UP REPORT.—Not later than 270 
days after the submission of the report under section 
4(c), the Administrator shall publish a report that 
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lists each practice, procedure, and feature that the 
Administrator considered under subsection (a), along 
with an assessment of the extent to which such prac-
tice, procedure, or feature would reduce the trans-
mission of pathogens, irrespective of the cost of such 
implementing such practice, procedure, or feature. 
(2) PUBLICATION OF REPORT.—The Adminis-
trator shall— 
(A) transmit the report required under this 
subsection to the congressional committees of 
jurisdiction; and 
(B) publish such report on the website of 
the Federal Aviation Administration. 
(c) RULEMAKING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the issuance of the report required under subsection 
(b), the Administrator shall initiate one or more 
rulemaking proceedings to— 
(A) amend part 25 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, to require that applica-
tions for new type certificates (including 
amended type certificates) for new passenger 
airplanes must include such features described 
in subsection (a) as the Administrator deter-
mines appropriate; and 
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