Airport Alert: Senate Committee Rejects Proposal to Repeal Federal Mask Mandate in Transportation
June 16, 2021
The Senate Commerce Committee today approved its sections of a surface transportation authorization bill, and during consideration of the measure rejected an amendment that called for repealing the federal mask mandate in transportation hubs.
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) offered the amendment to revoke the federal mask mandate in transportation. He and other Republican lawmakers argued that the requirement is not based on science and is inconsistent with current CDC guidelines for those who have been vaccinated and are not using public transportation.
"The federal government should not be mandating citizens wearing masks on public transportation," Scott said. "Science does not support this. Mask mandates are being lifted all across the country by Republican and Democratic governors."
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) suggested that the requirement "makes no sense" and is "fundamentally un-American." Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) called the federal mask mandate "performative theater" and said it is hurting the aviation industry by suppressing demand.
The committee rejected the amendment on a party-line vote before overwhelmingly approving S. 2016 – a bipartisan bill that would authorize $78 billion over five years for multimodal, freight and rail projects and provide funding for highway safety programs.
The bill would also authorize $1.5 billion annually for a program that would "provide grants for surface transportation projects that have significant local and regional impact." Eligible projects include highways, bridges, rail, ports, and "surface transportation components of airport projects…."
While the path forward for a broad infrastructure package is unclear at this point, House and Senate leaders appear intent to move a highway bill through both chambers in the weeks ahead. Today's committee action was part of that process and follows passage last week of the surface transportation elements of a highway bill by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
The Senate Commerce Committee today approved its sections of a surface transportation authorization bill, and during consideration of the measure rejected an amendment that called for repealing the federal mask mandate in transportation hubs.
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) offered the amendment to revoke the federal mask mandate in transportation. He and other Republican lawmakers argued that the requirement is not based on science and is inconsistent with current CDC guidelines for those who have been vaccinated and are not using public transportation.
"The federal government should not be mandating citizens wearing masks on public transportation," Scott said. "Science does not support this. Mask mandates are being lifted all across the country by Republican and Democratic governors."
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) suggested that the requirement "makes no sense" and is "fundamentally un-American." Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) called the federal mask mandate "performative theater" and said it is hurting the aviation industry by suppressing demand.
The committee rejected the amendment on a party-line vote before overwhelmingly approving S. 2016 – a bipartisan bill that would authorize $78 billion over five years for multimodal, freight and rail projects and provide funding for highway safety programs.
The bill would also authorize $1.5 billion annually for a program that would "provide grants for surface transportation projects that have significant local and regional impact." Eligible projects include highways, bridges, rail, ports, and "surface transportation components of airport projects…."
While the path forward for a broad infrastructure package is unclear at this point, House and Senate leaders appear intent to move a highway bill through both chambers in the weeks ahead. Today's committee action was part of that process and follows passage last week of the surface transportation elements of a highway bill by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
