Democrats call on CDC and FAA to impose vaccine requirement on domestic air travel

Democratic lawmakers on Monday called on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Federal Aviation Administration to implement new requirements for air travelers to show proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results in order to fly domestically in the United States.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and House Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), wrote a letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and FAA Administrator Steve Dickson urging them to act quickly, as Americans prepare to travel for the holidays and the Omicron variant poses a “major public health threat.”

“We urge you to implement new requirements for airline passengers to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result to board a domestic flight,” the Democrats wrote.

Air travel has essentially returned to pre-pandemic levels but COVID-19, particularly the omicron variant, continues to pose a major public health threat. We’re urging the CDC and FAA to start requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test for all domestic flights. pic.twitter.com/nZIg6P6BbE

— Senator Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) December 20, 2021

They said that the additional coronavirus restrictions would “improve public health and address concerns that passengers have about flying.”- READ MORE