US Senate Republicans press CDC to end mask mandate on airplanes, transit

A group of Senate Republicans urged the CDC Friday to stop requiring fully vaccinated Americans to wear masks on public transportation, including airplanes, trains and buses but also in airports and train stations. Roger Wicker, the most senior Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, and Ted Cruz, top Republican on an aviation subcommittee, along with Susan Collins, Jerry Moran, Cynthia Lummis and Marsha Blackburn introduced a resolution urging the CDC to lift mask requirements in place since Feb. 1. "Over 150 million people in the United States are fully vaccinated and mask mandates have been lifted across the country. But the CDC inexplicably still hasn’t lifted the mask mandate for public transportation," Cruz said. "It’s long past time for President Biden and the CDC to follow the science." The lawmakers argued the change "would incentivize a greater number of individuals to receive the COVID–19 vaccine." In May, the CDC said fully vaccinated Americans could stop wearing masks in nearly all indoor spaces - with transportation one of the few exceptions. The TSA on April 30 extended orders to enforce face mask requirements through Sept. 13.<br/>