[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7607 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7607

To condition the receipt of funds with respect to COVID-19 on requiring 
      the use of face coverings in public, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 13, 2020

Ms. Wilson of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To condition the receipt of funds with respect to COVID-19 on requiring 
      the use of face coverings in public, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Masks for All Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The widespread use of face coverings by the public is 
        essential to help slow the spread of the virus that causes 
        COVID-19 and help prevent the transmission of such virus by 
        individuals who do not show symptoms.
            (2) The Government has an interest in encouraging the use 
        of face coverings in public and each place of business to 
        protect the health of populations that are at a higher risk of 
        developing severe illness from COVID-19, including--
                    (A) the immunocompromised;
                    (B) individuals who are 65 years of age or older; 
                and
                    (C) individuals living with chronic lung disease, 
                moderate to severe asthma, serious heart conditions, 
                diabetes, chronic kidney disease, severe obesity, or 
                liver disease.
            (3) Overwhelming scientific evidence has shown that face 
        coverings block a high portion of respiratory droplets that 
        spread the virus that causes COVID-19.
            (4) Evidence from an international cross-disciplinary 
        review of scientific research has shown that--
                    (A) using a face covering in public is most 
                effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19 when 
                compliance is high; and
                    (B) transmission in a community is substantially 
                lower when individuals are required to use a face 
                covering or where the use of a face covering is 
                widespread.
            (5) The widespread use of face coverings substantially 
        reduces the number of fatalities, the cases of severe illness, 
        and continued economic losses that result from transmission of 
        the virus that causes COVID-19.
            (6) The widespread use of face coverings is necessary (but 
        not sufficient) to slow the spread of the virus that causes 
        COVID-19 and should be promoted along with regular handwashing, 
        social distancing, testing, and minimizing nonessential 
        activities outside of the household.

SEC. 3. USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN PUBLIC.

    (a) Conditional Funding With Respect to Face Coverings.--The 
Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this Act referred to as the 
``Secretary''), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, shall require each State, territory, local 
government, and Tribal government to, as a condition on the receipt of 
COVID-19 funds and funds under a provision of a covered law, require, 
subject to the exceptions specified in subsection (b), the use of face 
coverings during the emergency period in public, including in each 
place of business, in the respective jurisdiction.
    (b) Exceptions.--The exceptions specified in this subsection are 
that a requirement implemented pursuant to subsection (a) may not apply 
to--
            (1) outdoor spaces where individuals may maintain a 
        distance of at least 6 feet from other individuals who are not 
        members of the same household; and
            (2) any individual who--
                    (A) is under 2 years of age;
                    (B) has a medical condition in which wearing a face 
                covering could obstruct the ability of the individual 
                to breathe;
                    (C) is unable to remove a face covering without 
                assistance; and
                    (D) is receiving a service that requires temporary 
                removal of the face covering, including a service with 
                respect to a food or beverage.
    (c) Grants To Promote Face Coverings.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary may award grants to 
        States, territories, and Tribal governments to promote access 
        to face coverings for the purpose of minimizing the risk of 
        exposure to COVID-19, including installing face covering 
        dispensers in public.
            (2) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this 
        section, a State, territory, and Tribal government shall submit 
        to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary determines 
        appropriate, including a certification that the State will meet 
        the requirements under paragraph (3).
            (3) Use of funds.--A State, territory, and Tribal 
        government that receives a grant under this section shall use 
        grant funds to promote access to face coverings for the purpose 
        of minimizing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in accordance 
        with--
                    (A) guidelines determined necessary by the 
                Secretary; and
                    (B) guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease 
                Control and Prevention with respect to the use of face 
                coverings.
    (d) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Covered law.--The term ``covered law'' means each of 
        the following:
                    (A) The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response 
                Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-
                123), or an amendment made by that Act.
                    (B) The Families First Coronavirus Response Act 
                (Public Law 116-127), or an amendment made by that Act.
                    (C) The CARES Act (Public Law 116-136), or an 
                amendment made by that Act.
                    (D) The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care 
                Enhancement Act (Public Law 116-139), or an amendment 
                made by that Act.
                    (E) Other laws with respect to relief from the 
                COVID-19 pandemic.
            (2) COVID-19 funds.--The term ``COVID-19 funds'' means 
        funds provided to a State, territory, local government, and 
        Tribal government through any grants or cooperative agreements 
        for preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 
        including funds provided through cooperative agreements with 
        the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
            (3) Emergency period.--The term ``emergency period'' has 
        the meaning given that term in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5(g)(1)(B)).
            (4)  Face covering.--The term ``face covering'' means any 
        material that covers the nose and mouth of an individual.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act $75,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
years 2021 through 2022.
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