Amid a sudden trend to reinstate mask requirements that have little effect in mitigating COVID-19, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) is proposing legislation that would prohibit federal mask mandates for domestic air travel, public transit systems, and primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools.
On Thursday, Vance will force Senate floor consideration of his Freedom to Breathe Act, according to a press release from his office.
“Multiple entities within our government, within the public health bureaucracy, there are local schools in the D.C. area now reimposing mask mandates, this is coming back unless we stop it from happening,” the GOP senator said in a statement. “That’s why I introduced this legislation, and I’m going to force the Democrats to vote on it. If they say the mask mandates are not coming back, then come to the Senate floor, vote with us, and say ‘no more mask mandates.’ Let’s make it bipartisan.”
“We tried mask mandates once in this country. They failed to control the spread of respiratory viruses, violated basic bodily freedom, and set our fellow citizens against one another,” Vance said.
The measure would be valid through December 31, 2024, and states in part: “During the applicable period, notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal funds may be obligated or expended to propose, establish, implement, or enforce, directly or indirectly through the imposition of a condition on receipt of Federal funds, any requirement that an individual wear a mask or comply with a mask mandate while traveling as a passenger of an air carrier in the national airspace system, using public transit, or while in any elementary school, secondary school, or institution of higher education.”
Vance appeared Tuesday night on Fox News’s “Hannity” to say he wants to hold Democrats to their word that they are not going to bring back mask mandates:
No more mask mandates for school kids or airline passengers. This week I’ll force a vote on my legislation to ban federal mask mandates. pic.twitter.com/HT5Fg7yai7
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) September 6, 2023
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:
AMEN!! Add hospitals too where not needed. Masks help no one. It’s just how it all begins to create a credible threat to control the public through fear. No more!!!!!
— ReneJayeee (@MorningInUSA123) September 6, 2023
ALL Americans should be protected from forced vaccination too!!
— Rosa (@AquaBreezesRosa) September 6, 2023
These things should *always* require public debate with facts and arguments presented and unintended consequences considered. We can no longer defer to beurocrats to decide for us. We have time and processes, use them!
— Tim Conrad (@TimConradB623) September 6, 2023
Republican voters are being arrested. Where’s the laws to protect your voters for democrats prosecutions?
— Dr. Interracial (@billysandytodd) September 6, 2023
Be brave, like Florida. pic.twitter.com/TzxORXcx9G
— Sour Patch Lyds (@sourpatchlyds) September 6, 2023
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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