US lawmaker says seeking bipartisan legislation on airline mask rules

A US senator said on Wednesday he was hoping for bipartisan support in Congress for mandatory rules on masks for air travel after the head of the FAA again resisted calls for a mandate. While most US airlines are now requiring that passengers wear masks, the DoT has not issued any rules. FAA Chief Steve Dickson said the DOT and the FAA expect the travelling public to follow individual airlines' directions and policies on face coverings. Several lawmakers asked Dickson why it was not made a rule. "I don’t understand why we are going with a private sector-driven approach here, or a voluntary approach," Senator Brian Schatz said at the hearing, adding that he would seek legislation. Dickson said the CDC has responsibility for public health, while the FAA has oversight of aviation safety, but noted work with carriers and other U.S. agencies to ensure "consistent guidelines." FAA officials have said that the agency does not believe it has legal authority to require masks.<br/>