J.D. Vance moves to ban mask mandates in schools or public transit

Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance on Tuesday announced that he would introduce a bill to prevent the government from imposing mask mandates and bar officials in myriad institutions from refusing to serve unmasked individuals.

Dubbed the "Freedom to Breathe Act," the bill would "ensure that no federal bureaucracy, no commercial airline, and no public school can impose the misguided policies of the past," Vance said, according to Cleveland.com.

"Democrats say they’re not going to bring back mask mandates – we’re going to hold them to their word," he vowed.

The Ohio Republican's efforts come amid talk of a surge in COVID-19 cases and renewed pushes for pandemic restrictions to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Past pandemic measures have come under scrutiny, in particular the mask mandates. Former White House Chief Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci has stood by his recommendations, contending that use of masks is effective.

"The individual who religiously wears a properly fitted mask, the effect is much, much, much better than that. It’s 85, 90% or more," he told CNN's Kaitlan Collins in April.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.