Skift Take
Some lawmakers state they want to prevent a “terrible winter season rise” of coronavirus, however it’s skeptical there’ll suffice support that reverses Americans’ flexibility to fly.
Matthew Parsons
Three lots Democratic legislators on Friday prompted President Joe Biden to require domestic airline company travelers to be vaccinated versus Covid-19 or reveal a negative test result.
“This is a needed and long overdue step toward making sure all Americans feel safe and confident while traveling and minimize the possibilities of yet another ravaging winter season surge,” said the letter from members of Congress led by Representatives Don Beyer and Ritchie Torres and Senator Dianne Feinstein.
On Monday, the U.S. imposed new requirements for almost all foreign nationals flying to the country to show proof of vaccination in addition to evidence of a negative Covid-19 test. The Biden administration also raised travel limitations that barred most foreign nationals from the U.S. who had actually just recently remained in China, Brazil, South Africa, Iran and much of Europe.
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Asked why the administration was not imposing any requirements on domestic air travel, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday, “Everything is on the table. We just don’t have any statement to preview today on this.”
The letter, signed by senior Democrats consisting of Agents Jerrold Nadler, Adam Schiff, David Cicilline, Barbara Lee and Eleanor Holmes Norton, applauded the administration’s adoption of worldwide air vaccine requirements.
“Applying comparable methods to domestic air travel would guarantee Americans can travel securely to see their enjoyed ones during the holidays while likewise limiting household intro and spread of Covid-19 from visiting family and friends,” the letter said.
Recently, the Biden administration said it would not implement a due date for federal contractors consisting of significant U.S. airline companies to guarantee their staff members are immunized versus Covid-19 till Jan. 4.
Both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines said they would press back worker due dates till then.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
This post was written by David Shepardson from Reuters and was legally certified through the Market Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing concerns to [email protected]
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