Rep. Lori Trahan, Sen. Bernie Sanders reintroduce Masks for All Act to get Americans N95 masks

By Benjamin Kail

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan of Massachusetts on Wednesday partnered with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and dozens of Democrats to reintroduce a plan to ramp up production of protective N95 masks and get at least three to every American during the surge of the omicron COVID-19 variant.

More than 50 Democrats in the House and Senate have co-sponsored the Masks for All Act, which calls for a $5 billion investment to manufacture, procure and distribute the masks — including masks sized for adults and children — to households, dorms, prisons, and homeless shelters, as well as much-needed masks for workers in health settings.

The lawmakers said they’d push to use the Defense Production Act if necessary to bolster supply and eliminate mask shortages, while also providing free masks for pick up at post offices, pharmacies, schools and testing and vaccination sites.

“Masks save lives,” Trahan said in a statement. “As we face highly contagious coronavirus variants, it’s absolutely critical that every American has access to high-quality, protective N95 and KN95 masks to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”

Sanders and Democrats initially introduced the bill in 2020 after consulting with health experts, including Andy Slavitt, one of President Joe Biden’s former COVID-19 advisers.

The lawmakers cited estimates that more widespread mask-wearing could save the U.S. economy $1 trillion by preventing closures or lockdowns.

In a statement, Sanders on Tuesday said Americans should remember that “not all face masks are created equal.”

“Congress must demand the mass production and distribution of N95 masks, one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of the [COVID-19] virus,” he said. “It is an absolute scandal that in the richest country in the history of the world, high-quality masks are not more readily available to frontline workers, health care workers and all Americans. We are proposing that we do what our public health experts and scientists say we must do: provide all of our people with high-quality, N95 masks without cost, which could prevent death and suffering and save huge amounts of health care dollars.”

The lawmakers noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may update its mask guidance to recommend the more protective masks.

The White House COVID-19 task force, in a news conference Wednesday, said the Biden administration was “strongly considering options to make more high quality masks available to Americans.”

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, told reporters that “Any mask is better than no mask,” but added that the CDC was looking at updating its recommendations.

She urged Americans to wear “well-fitting masks to protect themselves and others from contracting COVID-19.”