Senator Vance To Force Floor Consideration Of Bill To Ban Federal Mask Mandates

Learn About the Freedom to Breathe Act

Sep 07, 2023

Today, Senator Vance will request unanimous consent on his Freedom to Breathe Act. Senate Democrats will be forced to decide whether they support mask mandates or individual freedom.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, Senator Vance will force Senate floor consideration of his Freedom to Breathe Act, which would prevent the reimposition of federal mask mandates for domestic air travel, public transit systems, and primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools.

Any floor objection to Senator Vance’s unanimous consent request would amount to a clear admission that Democrats intend to reimpose mask mandates in the near term. This narrowly tailored legislation sunsets in 2024 and does not apply to hospitals or nursing homes.

“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,” said Senator Vance. “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.”

The Freedom to Breathe Act is cosponsored by Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Mike Braun (R-IN).

For Background:

Senator Vance originally introduced the Freedom to Breathe Act on Tuesday, September 5. The legislation which would prohibit any federal official, including the President, from issuing mask mandates applying to domestic air travel, public transit systems, or primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools. The legislation would also prohibit air carriers, transit authorities, and educational institutions from refusing service to individuals who choose not to wear a mask.