of such operator is wearing a mask or other protective face 
covering except when such individual— 
‘‘(1) is consuming food or beverage; 
‘‘(2) is attending to a medical need that justi-
fies temporary removal of the mask or face covering; 
‘‘(3) is directed to remove a mask or face cov-
ering by an air carrier employee, a law enforcement 
officer, or a person performing functions governed 
under chapter 449; or 
‘‘(4) has another reason identified by the Ad-
ministrator in any regulations promulgated under 
this section. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS-
ABILITIES.— 
‘‘(1) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.—Noth-
ing in this section shall be construed to abridge any 
right, or excuse the performance of any duty, arising 
under any applicable requirements of chapter 126 of 
title 42 or, to the extent applicable, section 41705 
of this title or regulations issued pursuant to such 
chapter or section. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF AIRPORT OPER-
ATOR.—If an employee or contractor of an airport 
operator is providing assistance to an air carrier 
passenger covered under chapter 126 of title 42 or 
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section 41705 of this title, such employee or con-
tractor shall assist such individual— 
‘‘(A) in donning or removing a mask or 
face covering required under subsection (a); 
‘‘(B) in taking any reasonable measures, 
consistent with any applicable guidelines of the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
necessary for the individual to reduce the 
chance of infection with the disease; and 
‘‘(C) in complying with any legal, air car-
rier, or airport requirement intended to reduce 
the spread of the disease. 
‘‘§ 50204. Protective masks and equipment among air 
carrier employees during public health 
emergencies 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—During the period of any na-
tional emergency declared by the President under the Na-
tional Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with re-
spect to an airborne disease, each air carrier operating 
under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
shall— 
‘‘(1) require each cabin crewmember to wear a 
mask or protective face covering and permit such 
crewmember to wear protective eyewear or a face 
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shield while on board an aircraft or in a vehicle of 
the air carrier; 
‘‘(2) require each flight crewmember to wear a 
mask or protective face covering and permit such 
crewmember to wear protective eyewear or a face 
shield while on board an aircraft but outside the 
flight deck of the air carrier or in a vehicle of the 
air carrier; 
‘‘(3) require each employee or contractor of the 
air carrier to wear a mask or protective face cov-
ering while within any indoor public space of a cov-
ered airport; 
‘‘(4) submit to the Administrator a proposal to 
permit flight crewmembers of the air carrier to wear 
a mask or protective face covering while at their sta-
tions in the flight deck of an aircraft of the air car-
rier, including a safety risk assessment with respect 
to such proposal; 
‘‘(5) provide flight and cabin crewmembers, air-
port customer service agents, and other employees 
whose job responsibilities involve interaction with 
passengers with masks or protective face coverings, 
gloves, and hand sanitizer and wipes with sufficient 
alcohol content, and provide training on the proper 
use of such items and equipment; 
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‘‘(6) ensure aircraft, including the cockpit and 
cabin, operated by such carrier are cleaned, dis-
infected, and sanitized by cleaners who are not flight 
or cabin crewmembers after each use in accordance 
with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
guidance; 
‘‘(7) ensure enclosed facilities owned, operated, 
or used by such air carrier, including facilities used 
for flight or cabin crewmember training or perform-
ance of indoor maintenance, repair, or overhaul 
work, are cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized fre-
quently in accordance with Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention guidance; 
‘‘(8) provide air carrier employees whose job re-
sponsibilities involve cleaning, disinfecting, and sani-
tizing aircraft or enclosed facilities described in 
paragraphs (6) and (7) with masks or protective 
face coverings and gloves, and ensure that each con-
tractor of the air carrier provides employees of such 
contractor with such materials; and 
‘‘(9) establish guidelines, or adhere to existing 
applicable guidelines, for notifying or contacting em-
ployees who may have come into physical contact or 
interaction with an employee who has been diag-
nosed with such airborne disease. 
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‘‘(b) LIMITED EXCEPTIONS.—The requirement for 
cabin and flight crewmembers to wear a mask or protec-
tive face covering under subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) shall 
not apply while— 
‘‘(1) consuming food or beverage; 
‘‘(2) addressing a legitimate medical need that 
justifies temporary removal of the mask or face cov-
ering; 
‘‘(3) donning a supplemental oxygen mask in 
the event of a reduction in the pressure altitude in-
side the cabin; 
‘‘(4) assisting another crewmember or pas-
senger in distress; or 
‘‘(5) performing another legitimate action iden-
tified by the air carrier or Administrator in any reg-
ulation issued pursuant to this section. 
‘‘§ 50205. Protection of certain Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration employees during public 
health emergencies 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—During the period of any na-
tional emergency declared by the President under the Na-
tional Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with re-
spect to an airborne disease, in order to maintain the safe 
and efficient operation of the air traffic control system, 
the Administrator shall— 
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‘‘(1) provide air traffic controllers, aviation 
safety inspectors, and airway transportation systems 
specialists of the Administration with masks or pro-
tective face coverings, gloves, and hand sanitizer and 
wipes with sufficient alcohol content; 
‘‘(2) ensure air traffic control facilities are 
cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized frequently in ac-
cordance with Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention guidance; and 
‘‘(3) provide employees of the Administration 
whose job responsibilities involve cleaning, dis-
infecting, and sanitizing facilities described in para-
graph (2) with masks or protective face coverings 
and gloves, and ensure that each contractor of the 
Administration provides employees of such con-
tractor with such materials. 
‘‘(b) SOURCE OF EQUIPMENT.—The items described 
in subsection (a) may be procured or provided under such 
subsection through any sources available to the Adminis-
trator. 
‘‘§ 50206. National plan for aviation system prepared-
ness 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary, in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
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the Secretary of Homeland Security, Director of the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention, and the heads 
of such other Federal departments or agencies as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate, shall develop and regularly 
update a national aviation preparedness plan to ensure the 
aviation system is prepared to respond to epidemics and 
pandemics of infectious diseases. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—A plan developed under 
subsection (a) shall, at a minimum— 
‘‘(1) fully incorporate elements referenced in 
the recommendation of the Comptroller General of 
the United States to the Secretary of Transportation 
titled ‘Air Travel and Communicable Diseases: Com-
prehensive Federal Plan Needed for U.S. Aviation 
System’s Preparedness’, dated December 2015 (No. 
GAO 16–127); 
‘‘(2) clearly delineate the responsibilities of the 
sponsors or operators of covered airports, air car-
riers, and Federal agencies in responding to an in-
fectious disease epidemic or pandemic; and 
‘‘(3) include provisions for improving coordina-
tion among air carriers, airport sponsors, United 
States Customs and Border Protection, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, other appro-
priate Federal stakeholders, labor organizations rep-
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resenting groups listed in subsection (c), and other 
appropriate stakeholders for the rapid and orderly 
implementation of measures including health screen-
ing, quarantining, and contact-tracing with respect 
to air carrier passengers. 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—When developing a plan under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with aviation 
industry and labor stakeholders, including representatives 
of— 
‘‘(1) air carriers; 
‘‘(2) small, medium, and large hub airports; 
‘‘(3) labor organizations that represent flight 
crewmembers, cabin crewmembers, air carrier air-
port customer service representatives, and air carrier 
maintenance, repair, and overhaul workers; 
‘‘(4) the labor organization certified under sec-
tion 7111 of title 5 as the exclusive bargaining rep-
resentative of air traffic controllers of the Federal 
Aviation Administration; 
‘‘(5) the labor organization certified under such 
section as the exclusive bargaining representative of 
airway transportation systems specialists and avia-
tion safety inspectors of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration; and 
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‘‘(6) other stakeholders as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate. 
‘‘(d) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the plan 
is developed under subsection (a), the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress such plan. 
‘‘§ 50207. Definitions 
‘‘The definitions in section 40102(a) of this title shall 
apply to terms in this chapter, except that the following 
terms have the following meanings: 
‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘Adminis-
trator’ means the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration. 
‘‘(2) AIRBORNE DISEASE.—The term ‘airborne 
disease’ means an infectious disease that is, or is 
reasonably believed to be, caused by a pathogen 
transmissible by aerosols or respiratory droplets ex-
pelled from the nose or mouth. 
‘‘(3) COVERED
AIRPORT.—The term ‘covered 
airport’ means a public-use airport that receives 
flights of an air carrier operating under the provi-
sions of part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regu-
lations. 
‘‘(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation.’’. 
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
title VII of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘502. PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES 50201’’. 
(c) INTERFERENCE WITH CREWMEMBERS.—Section 
46504 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 
‘‘An individual’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) FAILURE TO WEAR MASKS DURING PUBLIC 
HEALTH EMERGENCY.—For purposes of subsection (a), 
an individual interferes with the performance of the duties 
of a flight crew member or flight attendant if such indi-
vidual, without justification, disobeys a flight crew mem-
ber’s or flight attendant’s instruction to wear a mask or 
protective face covering during the period of any national 
emergency declared by the President under the National 
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 
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(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.) relating to a public health 
emergency. 
(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. 
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(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 airborne 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-
posed to an airborne pathogen communicated by an-
other individual on board an 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; 
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(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, commonly touched surfaces, use or lo-
cation of lavatories, and such other variables as the 
National Academies consider relevant. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall— 
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(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 
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-
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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 
(B) require air carriers to implement such 
air carrier practices and procedures described 
in subsection (a) as the Administrator deter-
mines appropriate. 
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(2) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding paragraph 
(1), the Administrator may decline to initiate a rule-
making proceeding under paragraph (1) if the Ad-
ministrator— 
(A) determines that the practices, proce-
dures, or features described under paragraph 
(1) would not reduce the transmission of patho-
gens on board passenger airplanes by a reason-
able degree; and 
(B) not later than 60 days after the sub-
mission of the report required under subsection 
(b), submits to the congressional committees of 
jurisdiction a thorough justification describing 
in detail the Administrator’s rationale for de-
clining to initiate a rulemaking proceeding. 
SEC. 6. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR INFECTIOUS DIS-
EASE RESPONSE AND PREVENTION IN AVIA-
TION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall es-
tablish a Center of Excellence for Infectious Disease Re-
sponse and Prevention in Aviation (in this section referred 
to as the ‘‘Center of Excellence’’). 
(b) FUNCTIONS.—The Center of Excellence estab-
lished under this section shall— 
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