Americans could no longer be forced by the federal government to mask up if one lawmaker has his way.
Ohio Senator JD Vance has introduced a bill aimed at preventing federal mask mandates.
The "Freedom to Breathe Act" would ban federal agencies from requiring face masks in schools, airplanes, or public transit through the end of 2024.
"We tried mask mandates once in this country. They failed to control the spread of respiratory viruses, violated basic bodily freedom, and set our fellow citizens against one another," Vance, a Republican, said in a statement.
"This legislation will ensure that no federal bureaucracy, no commercial airline, and no public school can impose the misguided policies of the past," Vance continued. "Democrats say they're not going to bring back mask mandates – we're going to hold them to their word."
The Freedom to Breathe Act, which would apply through the end of 2024, would prohibit any federal official, including the President, from issuing mask mandates applying to domestic air travel, public transit systems, or primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools.
The legislation would also prohibit air carriers, transit authorities, and educational institutions from refusing service to individuals who choose not to wear a mask.
The legislation would not apply to hospitals or nursing homes.
Vance plans to "force Senate floor consideration" of his bill on Thursday. He said any floor objection to his unanimous consent request "would amount to a clear admission that Democrats intend to reimpose mask mandates in the near term."
"Multiple entities within our government, within the public health bureaucracy, there are local schools in the D.C. area now reimposing mask mandates, this is coming back unless we stop it from happening," Vance said. "That's why I introduced this legislation, and I'm going to force the Democrats to vote on it. If they say the mask mandates are not coming back, then come to the Senate floor, vote with us, and say 'No more mask mandates.' Let's make it bipartisan."
COVID-19-related hospitalizations have risen 29% in the last 14 days, according to data from the New York Times.