Massachusetts Sen. Markey blocks Vance attempt to ban federal mask mandates

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ed Markey blocked an attempt on Thursday to pass a Republican-led bill to bar the implementation of a federal mask mandate in schools or public transit.

The "Freedom to Breathe Act," introduced by Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance earlier this week, would "ensure that no federal bureaucracy, no commercial airline, and no public school can impose the misguided policies of the past," the Republican stated at the time.

Vance had sought to pass the legislation via unanimous consent, though Markey raised an objection, insisting that such a ban would potentially tie the government's hands in the event of another pandemic.

"The bill would undermine the ability of states, cities and towns across this country to make decisions about what’s best for their communities. It would silence and hamstring public health experts who have guided our nation out of the darkest days of a pandemic that has killed 1,139,000 people in our country in three years," he said, according to the Washington Times.

Vance contended that it would not affect anyone seeking to wear a mask voluntarily and that government mandates were encroachments on personal liberty. The Ohio lawmaker introduced his plan amid mounting speculation that the government would revive COVID-19 restrictions in the response to a surge in cases.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.