Title: A resolution encouraging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review and update its guidance relating to mask wearing in confined places.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution encourages the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to update certain guidance to clarify that individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 need not wear masks on public transportation networks. The resolution also recommends that the Transportation Security Administration align its mask requirements with such CDC guidance.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 290 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 290

 Encouraging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review 
  and update its guidance relating to mask wearing in confined places.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 24, 2021

Mr. Cruz (for himself, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Moran, Mr. Wicker, Ms. Collins, 
   and Mrs. Blackburn) submitted the following resolution; which was 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Encouraging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review 
  and update its guidance relating to mask wearing in confined places.

Whereas individuals in the United States have sacrificed immensely since the 
        beginning of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in March 
        2020, including by avoiding travel to see friends and family;
Whereas science shows that individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are 
        protected against asymptomatic infection, and thus very unlikely to 
        spread the disease;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance 
        relating to mask wearing in confined places for fully vaccinated 
        individuals, allowing individuals to no longer wear a mask in such 
        instances;
Whereas extending this mask guidance to allow fully vaccinated individuals to 
        travel on public transportation networks throughout the United States, 
        including through commercial aviation, without the need to wear a mask 
        would be instrumental in helping the economic recovery of the United 
        States by boosting travel and benefitting the travel and tourism 
        industries without sacrificing public health; and
Whereas allowing fully vaccinated passengers to travel, including by commercial 
        aviation, without wearing a mask would incentivize a greater number of 
        individuals to receive the COVID-19 vaccine: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) encourages the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention to review and update its guidance relating to mask 
        wearing in confined places to clarify that individuals fully 
        vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear a mask on 
        public transportation networks throughout the United States, 
        including at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on over-
        the-road buses, and on commuter bus and rail systems; and
            (2) believes the Transportation Security Administration 
        should update its mask requirements, to be consistent with the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, to permit 
        fully vaccinated individuals to travel on all transportation 
        networks throughout the United States without wearing a mask.
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