I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7177 
To require a joint task force on air travel during and after the COVID- 
19 Public Health Emergency, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 11, 2020 
Mr. LYNCH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees 
on Homeland Security, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To require a joint task force on air travel during and after 
the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ensuring Health Safe-
ty in the Skies Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. JOINT TASK FORCE ON AIR TRAVEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 30, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7177.IH
H7177
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
tation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services shall establish a 
Joint Task Force on Air Travel During and After the 
COVID–19 Public Health Emergency (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Joint Task Force’’). 
(b) DUTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Joint Task Force shall 
develop recommended requirements, plans, and 
guidelines to address the health, safety, security, and 
logistical issues relating to the continuation of air 
travel during the COVID–19 Public Health Emer-
gency, and with respect to the resumption of full op-
erations at airports and increased passenger air 
travel after the COVID–19 Public Health Emer-
gency ends. The Joint Task Force shall develop, at 
a minimum, recommended requirements, plans, and 
guidelines, as appropriate, with respect to each of 
the applicable periods described in paragraph (2) 
for— 
(A) reforming airport, air carrier, security, 
and other passenger air travel-related oper-
ations, including passenger queuing, passenger 
security screening, boarding, deplaning, and 
baggage handling procedures, as a result of— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 30, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7177.IH
H7177
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(i) current and anticipated changes to 
passenger air travel during the COVID–19 
Public Health Emergency and after that 
emergency ends; and 
(ii) anticipated changes to passenger 
air travel as a result of the projected sea-
sonal recurrence of the coronavirus; 
(B) mitigating the public health and eco-
nomic impacts of the COVID–19 Public Health 
Emergency and the projected seasonal recur-
rence of the coronavirus on airports and pas-
senger air travel, including through the use of 
personal protective equipment for passengers 
and employees, the implementation of strategies 
to promote overall passenger and employee safe-
ty, and the accommodation of social distancing, 
as necessary; 
(C) addressing the privacy and civil liberty 
concerns 
created 
by 
passenger 
health 
screenings, contact-tracing, or any other proc-
ess for monitoring the health of individuals en-
gaged in health travel; and 
(D) operating procedures to manage future 
public health crises affecting air travel. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 30, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7177.IH
H7177
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(2) APPLICABLE
PERIODS.—For purposes of 
paragraph (1), the applicable periods are the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The period beginning with the date of 
the first meeting of the Joint Task Force and 
ending with the date on which the COVID–19 
Public Health Emergency ends. 
(B) The 1-year period beginning on the 
day after the period described in subparagraph 
(A) ends. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—In developing the rec-
ommended requirements, plans, and guidelines 
under subsection (b), and prior to including them in 
the final report required under subsection (f)(2), the 
Joint Task Force shall— 
(A) consider the consensus recommenda-
tions of the Advisory Committee established 
under subsection (e); 
(B) conduct cost-benefit evaluations; 
(C) consider funding constraints; and 
(D) use risk-based decision making. 
(2) 
INTERNATIONAL
CONSULTATION.—The 
Joint Task Force shall consult, as practicable, with 
relevant international entities and operators, includ-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 30, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7177.IH
H7177
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
ing the International Civil Aviation Organization, to-
wards the goal of maximizing the harmonization of 
recommended requirements, plans, and guidelines 
for air travel during and after the COVID–19 Public 
Health Emergency. 
(d) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) CHAIR.—The Secretary of Transportation 
(or the Secretary’s designee) shall serve as the Chair 
of the Joint Task Force. 
(2) VICE CHAIR.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (or the Secretary’s designee) shall 
serve as Vice Chair of the Joint Task Force. 
(3) OTHER
MEMBERS.—In addition to the 
Chair and Vice Chair, the members of the Joint 
Task Force shall include representatives of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The Department of Transportation. 
(B) The Department of Homeland Secu-
rity. 
(C) The Department of Health and 
Human Services. 
(D) The Federal Aviation Administration. 
(E) The Transportation Security Adminis-
tration. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 30, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7177.IH
H7177
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(F) United States Customs and Border 
Protection. 
(G) The Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention. 
(H) The Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration. 
(I) The National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health. 
(J) The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration. 
(K) The Department of State. 
(L) The Environmental Protection Agency. 
(e) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 15 days 
after the date on which the Joint Task Force is es-
tablished under subsection (a), the Secretary of 
Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, shall establish a Joint Federal Ad-
visory Committee to advise the Joint Task Force (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘Advisory Com-
mittee’’). 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The members of the Advi-
sory Committee shall include representatives of the 
following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 30, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7177.IH
H7177
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(B) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 14 
days after the date on which the Advisory Com-
mittee submits policy recommendations to the 
Joint Task Force in accordance with subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary of Transportation 
shall publish the policy recommendations on a 
publicly accessible website. 
(5) PROHIBITION
ON
COMPENSATION.—The 
members of the Advisory Committee shall not re-
ceive any compensation from the Federal Govern-
ment by reason of their service on the Advisory 
Committee. 
(f) BRIEFINGS AND REPORTS.— 
(1) PRELIMINARY
BRIEFINGS.—As soon as 
practicable, but not later than 6 months after the 
establishment of the Joint Task Force, the Joint 
Task Force shall begin providing preliminary brief-
ings for Congress on the status of the development 
of the recommended requirements, plans, and guide-
lines under subsection (b). The preliminary briefings 
shall include interim versions, if any, of the Joint 
Task Force’s recommendations. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.— 
(A) DEADLINE.—As soon as practicable, 
but not later than 18 months after the date of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 30, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7177.IH
H7177
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
enactment of this Act, the Joint Task Force 
shall submit to Congress a final report. 
(B) CONTENT.—The final report under 
subparagraph (A) shall include the following: 
(i) All of the recommended require-
ments, plans, and guidelines developed by 
the Joint Task Force. 
(ii) A description of any actions taken 
by the Federal Government as a result of 
such recommendations. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The Joint Task Force and Advi-
sory Committee shall terminate 30 days after the date on 
which the Joint Task Force submits the final report re-
quired under subsection (f)(2). 
(h) 
DEFINITION.—In 
this 
section, 
the 
term 
‘‘COVID–19 Public Health Emergency’’ means the public 
health emergency first declared on January 31, 2020, by 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services under sec-
tion 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
247d) with respect to COVID–19 and includes any re-
newal of such declaration pursuant to such section 319. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 30, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H7177.IH
H7177
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS