CDC Issues Mask Recommendation for Public Transportation, Rep. Price Urges Stronger Mandate

Press Release

Congressman David Price (D-NC) released a statement regarding the recent decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommending masks for passengers and workers on nearly all forms of public transportation, including commercial airlines and ride-share companies. In his capacity as Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) Appropriations Subcommittee, Price included a nationwide mask requirement for all forms of transportation in the Fiscal Year 2021 T-HUD bill, which passed the House in July 2020 but garnered a veto threat from President Trump.

"I'm glad the CDC is finally 'strongly recommending' passengers and workers wear masks when utilizing public transportation, despite political pressure from the White House to ignore and downplay the COVID-19 threat," said Chairman Price. "However, I urge the CDC to go a step further. A mandate would ensure even more people adhere to this simple yet effective method to slow the spread of the virus--protecting riders, workers, and the general public. As mentioned in the guidance, local transmission can grow quickly into interstate and international transmission when infected persons travel without wearing a mask and in close proximity to others."

"Since President Trump refuses to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, I will keep working with colleagues to enact these and other common-sense health and safety measures into law."

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