U.S. Senate Passes Resolution To Overturn Mask Mandate for Public Transportation

The Senate passed a resolution that would overturn the extended federal mask mandate for public transportation such as planes, trains, and subways, among others.

U.S. Senate approved the measure in a 57-40 vote, with eight Democrats joining Republicans to pass the Resolution, while Sen. Mitt Romney was the only Republican senator to oppose the measure, according to an NBC News report.

The resolution will now be heading to the House. However, it is unclear whether Speaker Nancy Pelosi will allow a vote.

The measure is now considered under the Congressional Review Act. It would only need a simple majority to pass the Senate.

Sen. Rand Paul headed the resolution, who said that with the Senate's vote, it sends a message to unelected government bureaucrats to stop the "anti-science, nanny state requirement of travel mask mandates."

Paul said that Senate said in today's vote, "enough is enough," according to The Daily Wire News report.

The Kentucky senator added that bureaucrats continue to defy science by imposing an ineffective and restrictive mask mandate for individuals on public transit and airplanes.

The Republican said that he forced the vote as the federal government is using "fear-mongering to stubbornly perpetuate its mandates" while the world learns to live with the pandemic.

Paul also called for "clear-eyed, rational advice" on how to best protect people from the illness.

Mask Mandate for Public Transportation

As of Feb. 25, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a guidelines that does not require wearing of masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems, according to CDC website.

The guidelines cover early care and educational/child care programs.

CDC issued an order in January 2021 requiring face masks to be worn by all people while on public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and U.S. territories.

The order also required all people to wear masks while at airports, bus or ferry terminals, train and subway stations, as well as seaports, which include both indoor and outdoor areas.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration announced on March 10 that the mask mandate in airports and while onboard a flight has been extended to April 18, according to a CNET news report.

Other public transportation modes are also covered in the extension of the mask mandate.

The mask mandate has been extended three times now and could be yet again, depending on the spread of any new variants that could develop.

White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said during a press briefing that the mask mandate will remain in place and will continue to be reviewed based on the developments of the pandemic.

The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, said that they would revisit the masking mandate.

On March 10, the agency recommended keeping it in place for another month.

The Federal Aviation Administration has reported 535 out of 814 unruly passengers as of March 7 regarding mask mandates.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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