Washington, D.C. (RELEASE) October 26, 2023 — Yesterday, U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, both R-Wyo., praised the U.S. Senate for passing Senator JD Vance’s (R-Ohio) amendment to the Senate minibus appropriations bill prohibiting the Department of Transportation from using any federal funds to enforce mask mandates.

The amendment, which passed the Senate by a vote of 59-38, bans mask mandates on passenger airlines, commuter rail, rapid transit buses, and any other transportation program funding through Fiscal Year 2024.

“Today, the Senate took an important step in protecting the freedoms and rights of all Americans,” said Senator Barrasso. “The federal government has no business mandating Americans wear masks on airlines or public transit. Thanks to Senator Vance’s leadership, this amendment ensures people in Wyoming and across the country won’t be forced to follow impractical Washington mandates. Senate Republicans will continue fighting to end unreasonable, one-size-fits-all rules from the federal government.”

“We cannot expect the people of Wyoming to forgo their personal freedoms for misguided and ineffective mask mandates,” said Senator Lummis. “The passage of this commonsense amendment is a big win for states’ rights and I am glad we are one step closer to shielding the people of Wyoming from D.C. bureaucrats’ unfounded and heavy-handed federal mandates.”

Background:

Barrasso and Lummis are original co-sponsors of Senator Vance’s Freedom to Breathe Act. This legislation would prevent the government from imposing new federal mask mandates for domestic air travel, public transit systems, and in schools.

The senators also joined Senator Vance and Senate Republicans this fall in a press conference supporting the Freedom to Breath Act.