California Democrat Feinstein proposes blocking federal aid to states without mask mandate

California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein wants to denying states federal coronavirus relief funding if they fail to adopt policy requiring residents to wear masks. 

The GOP-controlled Senate is expected later this month to begin debate on the next coronavirus relief package.

Feinstein this week posted a statement to her website reading, "At that time, I intend to offer an amendment to prohibit sending funds to states that haven’t adopted a statewide mask requirement."

In the statement, she also argues that other countries controlling this virus are requiring masks.

"So why doesn’t the United States have a national mask mandate?," she asks. "Wearing masks in public should be mandatory. Period."

Feinstein specifically identified California, Alabama and Montana as states that require masks be worn in public.

"My hope has been that other governors would show the leadership to institute their own mask mandates, but so far that hasn’t happened. It’s time for Congress to step in,” she wrote.