On Thursday, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) attempted to pass his ‘Freedom to Breath’ bill through Congress via unanimous consent, however, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) objected thus forcing the bill to go to a vote on the Senate floor.

“Let’s learn the lessons of the past couple of years. Mandatory masking was a failure. It had costs for very little benefits and we shouldn’t repeat it,” Vance said before moving to pass the bill via unanimous consent.

“This bill would undermine the ability of states, cities, towns across this country to make decisions about what is best for their communities,” Markey said. “It would silence and hamstring public health experts who have guided our nation out of the darkest days of a pandemic that has killed 1,139,000 people in our country in three years.”

“This disease has killed 1,139,000 people already and doctors, experts are saying that COVID is on the back. It is on the rise once again,” the Massachusetts Democrat said.

As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, the legislation, titled the Freedom to Breathe Act, would prevent the Biden administration from instituting mask mandates up until December 31, 2024.

In addition, the legislation prevents the federal government from spending money that would lead to the implementation of mask mandates such as federal funding to airlines mandating face coverings.

“We tried mask mandates once in this country. They failed to control the spread of respiratory viruses, violated basic bodily freedom, and set our fellow citizens against one another,” Vance explained to the outlet. “This legislation will ensure that no federal bureaucracy, no commercial airline, and no public school can impose the misguided policies of the past.”

“Democrats say they’re not going to bring back mask mandates – we’re going to hold them to their word,” he added.

As reported by Fox News, the legislation would institute the following requirements if passed:

  • “Prohibit any federal official, including the President, from issuing an order requiring individuals to wear a mask or other face covering on any passenger flight in the U.S. national airspace system, on public transit, or in school (primary, secondary, and college);
  • Block Commercial Air Carriers, public transit authorities, and all educational institutions from refusing service to anyone who declines to wear a mask or other face covering;
  • Prevent the Secretary of Health and Human Services from requiring plane or train passengers and students to wear a mask or face covering in response to a public health emergency;
  • Restrict federal spending to propose, establish, implement, or enforce a mask requirement on airline and public transit passengers and students;
  • Require all agencies issue new and revised guidance within 90 days of enactment to implement the law and preempt all other laws or guidance contrary to the Act.”