Jun. 30—Last weekend, a group of Republican senators led by Ted Cruz announced a bill seeking an end to federal mask mandates for vaccinated travelers on planes, trains and other public transportation.
The Texas Senator tweeted on Sunday asking President Joe Biden and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should lift the face mask mandate ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.
"It's long past time for Joe Biden and the CDC to follow the science and end their mask mandate for fully vaccinated individuals on public transportation," he wrote in his tweet. "We should be able to travel to celebrate Independence Day without having to follow an outdated and unnecessary mandate."
The CDC recommends travelers stay home until they are fully vaccinated. For those who have received the vaccine, the CDC urges them to wear a face mask while traveling. However, the guidance states fully vaccinated people do not have to be tested before traveling and do not have to quarantine afterward.
After the CDC announced its advisory in May, the Transportation Security Administration extended its mask mandate for all traveling inside airports or commercial airplanes through September 13.
In the three-page bill, the GOP lawmakers — Cruz, Susan Collins, Jerry Moran, Roger Wicker, Cynthia Lummis, and Marsha Blackburn — state the science shows that individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are protected against asymptomatic infection and are unlikely to spread the disease.
The resolution also states ending the mandate will help the economic recovery of the United States and boost the travel and tourism industries.
Neither the CDC or Biden has not responded to the GOP's request.
___
(c)2021 the San Antonio Express-News
Visit the San Antonio Express-News at www.mysanantonio.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
