118 HR 5368 IH: Freedom to Breathe Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2023-09-08
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EN
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I
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5368
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 8, 2023
Ms. Greene of Georgia (for herself, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Collins, Mr. Zinke, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Rosendale, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Santos, Mr. Posey, Mr. Norman, Mr. Gooden of Texas, Mr. Bishop of North Carolina, Mr. Guest, and Mr. Tiffany) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To prohibit through December 31, 2024, the imposition of a mask mandate on passengers of air carriers or public transit and in educational settings within the United States, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Freedom to Breathe Act”.
2.

Definitions
In this Act:
(1)

Air carrier
The term air carrier means an air carrier conducting passenger operations under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
(2)

Applicable period
The term applicable period means the period that begins on the date of enactment of this Act and ends on December 31, 2024.
(3)

Commuter rail passenger transportation
The term commuter rail passenger transportation has the meaning given the term in section 24102 of title 49, United States Code.
(4)

ESEA definitions
The terms elementary school and secondary school have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.).
(5)

Covered educational institution
The term covered educational institution means an elementary school, secondary school, or institution of higher education, that receives Federal funds.
(6)

Institution of higher education
The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
(7)

Mask
The term mask means a material covering the nose and mouth of the wearer, excluding face shields.
(8)

Mask mandate
The term mask mandate means an order, directive, or ordinance which requires an individual to wear a mask to travel on any conveyance, or to enter or remain in any place within the United States, in response to a public health emergency.
(9)

National airspace system
The term national airspace system has the meaning given such term in section 245.5 of title 32, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
(10)

Public transit
The term public transit—
(A)
means a regular, continuing shared-ride surface transportation service that is open to the general public or open to a segment of the general public defined by age, disability, or low income; and
(B)
includes—
(i)
intercity passenger rail transportation provided by the entity described in chapter 243 of title 49, United States Code (or a successor to such entity);
(ii)
intercity bus service;
(iii)
charter bus service;
(iv)
school bus service;
(v)
sightseeing service;
(vi)
courtesy shuttle service for patrons of 1 or more specific establishments;
(vii)
intra-terminal or intra-facility shuttle services; and
(viii)
commuter rail passenger transportation.
3.

Restrictions on the use of Federal funds
During the applicable period, notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal funds may be obligated or expended to propose, establish, implement, or enforce, directly or indirectly through the imposition of a condition on receipt of Federal funds, any requirement that an individual wear a mask or comply with a mask mandate while traveling as a passenger of an air carrier in the national airspace system, using public transit, or while in any elementary school, secondary school, or institution of higher education.
4.

Prohibitions on imposing a mask mandate on passengers of air carriers in the national airspace system
(a)

No mask requirements on passengers of air carriers in the national airspace system
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the applicable period, neither the President nor any other Federal officer, employee, agency, or office shall issue or enforce an order requiring an air carrier to impose a mask mandate on individuals who are passengers of the air carrier in the national airspace system.
(b)

No authority To refuse air transportation
During the applicable period, no certificate holder under part 119 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, which conducts scheduled operations under part 121 of that title, nor any other air carrier who provides passenger air transportation in the national airspace system, shall refuse transportation to a passenger on the basis that the passenger refuses to wear a mask or comply with a mask mandate while traveling in the national airspace system.
(c)

No authority To issue or enforce mask mandates on passenger air carrier operations in response to a public health emergency
Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(f)
Nothing in this section authorizes the Secretary to require individuals to comply with a mask mandate (as defined in section 2 of the Freedom to Breathe Act) while traveling as a passenger of an air carrier (as defined in such section) in the national airspace system (as defined in such section) in response to a public health emergency declared under section 319 during the applicable period (as defined in such section).”.
5.

Prohibitions on imposing a mask mandate on passengers using public transit
(a)

No mask requirements on passengers using public transit
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the applicable period, neither the President nor any other Federal officer, employee, agency, or office shall issue or enforce an order requiring a Federal, State, or local public transit agency or authority to impose a mask mandate on passengers using public transit.
(b)

No authority To refuse public transit
During the applicable period, no public transit operator shall refuse transportation to a passenger on the basis that the passenger refuses to wear a mask or comply with a mask mandate.
(c)

No authority To issue or enforce mask mandates on passenger air carrier operations in response to a public health emergency
Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264), as amended by section 4(c), is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(g)
Nothing in this section authorizes the Secretary to require individuals to comply with a mask mandate (as defined in section 2 of the Freedom to Breathe Act) while using public transit (as defined in such section) in response to a public health emergency declared under section 319 during the applicable period (as defined in such section).”.
6.

Prohibitions on imposing a mask mandate in education settings
(a)

No mask requirements in schools or institutions of higher education
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the applicable period, neither the President nor any other Federal officer, employee, agency, or office, shall issue or enforce a mask mandate requiring individuals to wear a mask in any elementary school, secondary school, or institution of higher education.
(b)

No authority To refuse access to education
During the applicable period, a covered educational institution shall not refuse entry to or participation in any educational service or activity to a student, teacher, parent, or other individual on the basis that the student, teacher, parent, or other individual refuses to wear a mask or comply with a mask mandate during the educational service or activity.
(c)

No authority To issue or enforce mask mandates in educational settings in response to a public health emergency
Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264), as amended by section 5(c), is further amended by adding at the end the following:
“(h)
Nothing in this section authorizes the Secretary to require individuals to comply with a mask mandate (as defined in section 2 of the Freedom to Breathe Act) in any elementary school or secondary school (as such terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) or institution of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) in response to a public health emergency declared under section 319 9 during the applicable period (as defined in such section).”.
7.

Regulations
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of each Federal agency or office to which this Act applies shall issue such new or revised regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act.
8.

Preemption
The provisions of this Act shall supersede any provision of Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, or local law, declaration, guidance, or directive to the extent that such laws, declarations, guidance, or directives are inconsistent with this Act.