Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is unveiling legislation that would prohibit the imposition of mask mandates on public transportation.
The Kentucky senator unveiled the Travel Mask Mandate Repeal Act of 2021 on Wednesday. Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) co-sponsored the legislation.
In a statement, Paul said, “The federal government forcing the American people to continue to wear masks despite the fact that we’ve already reached herd immunity is ridiculous and needs to end immediately.”
“I am introducing the Travel Mask Mandate Repeal Act of 2021 to put a stop to this nanny state mandate of requiring masks on public transportation. In a free [country] people will evaluate their personal risk factors and are smart enough to ultimately make medical decisions like wearing a mask themselves,” he added.
I am introducing the Travel Mask Mandate Repeal Act of 2021 to put a stop to this nanny state mandate of requiring masks on public transportation… https://t.co/GAY71Fxp3g
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 14, 2021
In his first week in office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order mandating mask-wearing on forms of public transportation in an effort to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new mask-wearing guidelines that said vaccinated people do not need to wear masks indoor or outdoors. However, Americans are still required to wear masks on public transportation.
Cotton said, “Mask mandates have outlived their usefulness, yet they remain in effect on flights and other modes of public transportation.”
“This policy discourages family travel and forces Americans with children—especially those with disabilities—to cancel travel or else live in fear that an untimely tantrum or bad day could ruin their trip and cost them more than a thousand dollars in fines. Our bill will put an end to this unscientific and punitive practice,” he added.
Braun argued, “It is far, far past time to end the federal government’s contradictory one-size-fits-all COVID mandates, including the rule requiring masks on planes and public transportation.”
Additionally, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) plans to introduce companion legislation in the House. He said, “There is no scientific evidence for the continuation of mask mandates on public transportation. Bottom line, mask mandates are old news, and are only being kept in place by those who relish controlling our day-to-day lives.”