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

Bill: 117-sres-290
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2021-06-24
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aviation and airports

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health promotion and preventive care

Health technology, devices, supplies

Immunology and vaccination

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Motor carriers

Public transit

Railroads

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S4784-4785)

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-06-24
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 290 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

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.