Dear John,

We are living in unprecedented times, and we are facing new obstacles in travel. Filling planes to capacity and forcing passengers to sit shoulder to shoulder for hours at a time is incredibly irresponsible during a pandemic. But I’ve seen with my own eyes that airlines are willing to put their profit margins ahead of the health of their customers.

If taxpayers are going to bail out airlines, it is not too much to expect the airlines not to make the pandemic worse. That’s why this week, I introduced the Maintaining Important Distance During Lengthy Epidemics (MIDDLE) Act of 2020 -- legislation that would enhance in-flight safety by requiring face masks in order to board a plane and banning the sale of middle or otherwise adjacent seats for the duration of this public health emergency.

My bill would ban airlines from filling a seat adjacent to another seat which is occupied on a passenger aircraft, unless the Federal Aviation Administration works with the Department of Health and Human Services to make an appropriate exemption.  It would also prohibit any passenger or crewmember from boarding an airplane without wearing a mask. Additionally, the MIDDLE Act would ensure that customers are not charged fees if their seat assignment is changed to comply with these safeguards.

The coronavirus is spreading quickly, and you deserve commonsense protections. Please know that I will continue the fight to make sure that the health and well-being of you and your family take priority over big corporations’ profits.

All my best,
Jeff