(NewsNation) — Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation that would prohibit federal officials from issuing mask mandates when it comes to schools, domestic air travel, or public transit systems.
Sponsored in the Senate by Ohio’s J.D. Vance, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Mike Braun of Indiana, along with Rep. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, in the House, this legislation would also prevent these institutions from refusing service to individuals who choose not to wear a mask.
Vance said in a news release that he plans to force Senate floor consideration of the act Thursday.
“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,” Vance 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.”
There have been some schools that have started reinstating masks and other pandemic regulations as they see an uptick of COVID-19 cases.
A Maryland elementary school made masks required for 10 days after three students in a classroom tested positive for COVID-19, Fox 5 reports. And a college in Georgia had a 2-week mask mandate that is now over, though Morris Brown College says it will still continue other COVID-19 safety measures, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote.
Still, NewsNation partner The Hill points out that experts are doubtful government mandates on masks will return at this point, contrary to what Vance is suggesting.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a statement to Newsweek, said it does not currently intend to call for a return to mask mandates — although this might change if new variants cause cases to rise significantly.
“[The] CDC does not issue mandates, we make recommendations, and they are based on the current circumstances,” it told the publication. “We will continue monitoring and will adjust our recommendations accordingly.”
Data has consistently shown that wearing masks is effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19 in community settings. In addition, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have started trending up, although they are not increasing in numbers as high as they have in previous years.