Senator Mike Braun introduces bill to ban federal mask mandates

Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., speaks during a news conference on the budget bill, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Congressional leaders unveiled a government-wide $1.7 trillion spending package early Tuesday that includes another large round of aid to Ukraine, a nearly 10% boost in defense spending and roughly $40 billion in emergency spending, mostly to assist communities across the country recovering from drought, hurricanes and other natural disasters. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

by: Seth Austin

Posted: Sep 6, 2023 / 04:18 PM EDT

Updated: Sep 6, 2023 / 04:18 PM EDT

HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) – Indiana Senator Mike Braun and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance introduced a bill to ban federal mask mandates for domestic air travel, public transit systems and schools.

According to a news release from Senator Braun’s office, Senator Vance will force Senate floor consideration of the Freedom to Breathe Act on Thursday to prevent the imposition of federal mask mandates. The same release also claims objection to the act would amount to a “clear admission that Democrats intend to reimpose mask mandates in the near term.”

“We’re not going to go back to the top-down government overreach we saw during COVID,” said Senator Braun. “Congress needs to say forcefully that these ineffective, unscientific mask mandates are not coming back in any way, shape, or form.”

The legislation would sunset at the end of 2024, and would not apply to hospitals or nursing homes. You can read the legislation, in the window below.

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