PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 22, 2021
Healthy Flights Act of 2021
This bill provides authority for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to impose requirements on passenger and cargo air travel to protect the health and safety of air carrier crewmembers and passengers and to reduce the spread of infectious diseases through the aviation system during public health emergencies.
For example, the bill (1) sets forth requirements relating to the use of masks and other protective equipment for airline passengers and certain airline employees; (2) requires the FAA to provide certain employees, including any air traffic controller and airway transportation systems specialists, with masks and other protective equipment; and (3) mandates the development of a national aviation preparedness plan to ensure the aviation system is prepared to respond to epidemics and pandemics of infectious diseases.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Additionally, the bill directs each air carrier operating an aircraft with a seating capacity of 20 or more to implement appropriate measures on a flight to reduce the likelihood of any passenger or crewmember contracting an infectious disease.
The FAA must enter into an agreement with the National Academies to conduct a study on the transmission of infectious diseases, such as respiratory diseases, in the cabins of passenger airplanes.
Further, the bill (1) establishes a Center of Excellence for Infectious Disease Response and Prevention in Aviation within the FAA; and (2) directs the FAA to revise airline passenger briefing requirements, including briefings during a national emergency pertaining to a respiratory disease.
People & committees
Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] · D–OR
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Jan 3, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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