Congressmen LaMalfa and Reschenthaler Lead Letter to TSA to Allow Mask Mandate to Expire

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressmen Doug LaMalfa (R- Calif.) and Guy Reschenthaler (R – Pa.) led a group of 92 Republican Members of Congress in a letter to the Transportation Security Administration requesting that it allow the mask mandate for air travel, which is currently extended through March 18, 2022, to expire. Due to strong declines in COVID-19 cases and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) latest guidance eliminating indoor mask requirements for much of the population. Advanced filtration on airplanes makes the risk of COVID-19 exposure on planes extremely low.

"If you can go maskless for hours in an indoor crowded space like a sports arena, a concert, or in a restaurant, you can go maskless on an airplane. Airplanes are outfitted with particulate air filters, making it as safe – if not safer – to be maskless in an airplane than any other crowded indoor area. Passengers should decide for themselves whether they want to wear a mask or not," said Congressman LaMalfa.

"It is past time that the Biden Administration follows the science and allows Americans to return to normalcy. Given the substantial decline in Covid-19 cases and the incredible effectiveness of airplane filtration systems, the risk of COVID exposure on an airplane is extremely low. TSA should let its mask mandate expire and permit passengers to decide whether to wear a mask," said Congressman Reschenthaler.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.

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