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I hope you saw my latest weekly column.

 

ROGER WICKER: Time to end mask mandate
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Americans who have recently set foot in an airport or a train station probably
felt like they were stepping back in time. Although the pandemic is subsiding
and masks are no longer required in most settings, those who wish to board a
plane or a train are still being forced to wear masks – even if they are fully
vaccinated. Passengers are being instructed to keep their masks on even while
eating and drinking – “between bites and sips” – as if doing so would actually
stop the virus from spreading. Those who refuse to comply risk losing their
seats, being denied service in the future and even being fined. Americans are
getting fed up with these overbearing rules that have no basis in scientific
fact.

 

CDC should follow the science

 

The huge strides we have made against COVID-19 have led public officials to
end restrictions across the country, even in once-locked down states like New
York. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged this progress
in May when it announced that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear
masks in most public spaces. Unfortunately, the CDC kept strict rules in place
for public transportation, including aviation and rail, and is still requiring
most travelers above two years old to continue wearing masks – even though
children are at extremely low risk. The Transportation Security Administration
is enforcing this mandate until mid-September, meaning passengers will have to
endure another two months of forced mask-wearing.

 

This nationwide policy is totally unnecessary given the positive trends we are
seeing. Our nation is approaching 160 million people fully vaccinated, and
recent studies show that vaccinated people are highly immune to the virus and
are unlikely to spread it – making masks unnecessary. The virus is also much
less likely to spread on airplanes than other public places, since the HEPA air
filters on board help purify the air throughout the flight. There is simply no
reason for the CDC to single out domestic travel as uniquely risky. The CDC
should accept this reality and allow travelers to make their own decisions
about what protective measures to take.

 

Democrats block removal of mask rules

 

As the ranking Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, I have spoken
publicly about the need to end this blanket mask mandate on travelers, yet some
of my Democratic colleagues have blocked meaningful attempts to intervene on
behalf of the traveling public. Recently in the Commerce Committee, Democrats
voted down a measure that would have reversed the mask mandate for travelers,
and the following week Democrats blocked similar legislation on the Senate
floor. I am now cosponsoring a resolution calling on the CDC to end its mask
policy and bring travel into line with other major sectors of the economy.

 

Despite these setbacks, there are some good bipartisan discussions taking
place on this issue. Recently I joined a bipartisan group of senators,
including Democrats Brian Schatz and Amy Klobuchar, in sending a letter to the
CDC and TSA asking them to explain how the latest science is informing their
decisions. Americans have been told for more than a year to “trust the
science,” and the science now says it is safe to resume normal life once we
have been vaccinated. The CDC and TSA need to follow their own advice and end
this outdated mask mandate.

 

You can click here to share my Op-Ed with your friends on Facebook!
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Thank you for your support,

Senator Roger Wicker

 

 

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