(B) require air carriers to implement such 
air carrier practices and procedures described 
in subsection (a) as the Administrator deter-
mines appropriate. 
(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-
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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— 
(1) study, and provide educational, technical, 
and analytical assistance to the Administrator on, 
the transmissibility of infectious diseases, including 
respiratory diseases, during air travel and such dis-
eases’ effects on the United States aviation system 
and air commerce; 
(2) report to the Administrator on architecture, 
design, layout, technologies, industry practices, pro-
cedures, or policies, and other advancements that 
can be used by airports, air carriers, aircraft manu-
facturers, and other aviation stakeholders, as the 
case may be, to reduce the spread of infectious dis-
eases during air travel; and 
(3) make recommendations to the Adminis-
trator on regulations, policies, and guidance the Ad-
ministrator should develop or issue to meet the goals 
of this section. 
(c) INDUSTRY
AND LABOR PARTICIPATION.—The 
Center of Excellence may request or receive data, statis-
tics, or other information from aviation industry and labor 
stakeholders to help inform and carry out the functions 
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described in this section. The Center of Excellence shall 
clearly disclose the source of any materials requested or 
received that inform the recommendations under sub-
section (b)(3). 
SEC. 7. CABIN INSTRUCTION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMER-
GENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 14 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall ini-
tiate a rulemaking proceeding to amend the requirements 
for the briefing of passengers before takeoff under section 
121.571 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to in-
clude the announcements described in subsection (b). 
(b) PUBLIC
HEALTH
EMERGENCY
ANNOUNCE-
MENTS.—During the period of any national emergency de-
clared by the President under the National Emergencies 
Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to a respiratory 
disease, each air carrier operating a passenger airplane 
under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
shall ensure that all passengers are orally briefed before 
each takeoff by the appropriate crewmember on each of 
the following: 
(1) An announcement of any temporary in- 
flight passenger requirements issued pursuant to 
section 50201 of title 49, United States Code, and 
proper compliance with such requirements. 
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(2) An announcement demonstrating the re-
quirements of, and proper compliance with, section 
50202 of title 49, United States Code, including how 
and under what conditions face masks or protective 
face coverings must be worn and a statement that 
the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion require passenger compliance with crewmember 
instructions concerning the use of protective masks. 
(3) An announcement of any fines that may be 
assessed for violating any of the in-flight passenger 
requirements issued pursuant to sections 50201 and 
50202 of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this Act, the definitions in section 
40102(a) of title 49, United States Code, shall apply to 
terms in this Act, except that the following terms have 
the following meanings: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
(2) RESPIRATORY
DISEASE.—The term ‘‘res-
piratory disease’’ means an infectious disease that 
is, or is reasonably believed to be, caused by a 
pathogen transmissible by aerosols or respiratory 
droplets expelled from the nose or mouth. 
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(3) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES OF JURISDIC-
TION.—The term ‘‘congressional committees of juris-
diction’’ means the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
(4) PASSENGER
AIRPLANE.—The term ‘‘pas-
senger airplane’’ means a turbine-powered, trans-
port-category airplane certificated under the provi-
sions of subchapter C of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, with a passenger seating capacity of 20 
or more. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
Æ 
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