,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #didh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #b1 #bjbj,mr4 ,markey 7for himself and ,mr4 ,blumenthal7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to provide funds for addressing ,,covid-#ai conditioned on requiring the use of face coverings in public1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,encouraging ,masks for ,all ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the widespread use of face coverings by the public is essential to help slow the spread of the virus that causes ,,covid-#ai and help prevent the transmission of such virus by individuals who do not show symptoms4 7#b7 ,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-#ai1 including-- 7,a7 the immunocompromised2 7,b7 individuals who are #fe years of age or older2 and 7,c7 individuals living with chronic lung disease1 moderate to severe asthma1 serious heart conditions1 diabetes1 chronic kidney disease1 severe obesity1 or liver disease4 7#c7 ,overwhelming scientific evidence has shown that face coverings block a high portion of respiratory droplets that spread the virus that causes ,,covid-#ai4 7#d7 ,evidence from an international cross-disciplinary review of scientific research has shown that-- 7,a7 using a face covering in public is most effective at reducing the spread of ,,covid-#ai when compliance is high2 and 7,b7 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 widespread4 7#e7 ,the widespread use of face coverings substantially reduces the number of fatalities1 the cases of severe illness1 and continued economic losses that result from transmission of the virus that causes ,,covid-#ai4 7#f7 ,the widespread use of face coverings is necessary 7but not by itself sufficient7 to slow the spread of the virus that causes ,,covid-#ai and should be promoted along with regular handwashing1 social distancing1 testing1 and minimizing nonessential activities outside of the household4 #c4 ,use of face coverings in public 7a7 ,conditional funding with respect to face coverings 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7in this ,act referred to as the ,secretary71 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 using amounts appropriated under paragraph 7#c71 shall award a grant to each ,state1 territory1 local government1 and ,tribal government that1 during the emergency period1 subject to the exceptions under paragraph 7#b71 requires the use of face coverings in public 7including in each place of business7 in the respective jurisdiction1 consistent with public health guidelines issued by the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention4 ,the grants awarded under this paragraph shall be in such amount as the ,secretary determines appropriate1 and shall be used by the recipient for purposes of carrying out activities related to the prevention of the transmission of ,,covid-#ai in the applicable jurisdiction4 7#b7 ,exceptions ,the face covering requirement of a ,state1 territory1 local government1 or ,tribal government described in paragraph 7#a7 may provide for exceptions with respect to-- 7,a7 outdoor spaces where individuals may maintain a distance of at least #f feet from other individuals who are not members of the same household2 7,b7 any individual who-- 7i7 is under #b years of age2 7ii7 has a medical condition in which wearing a face covering could obstruct the ability of the individual to breathe2 7iii7 is unable to remove a face covering without assistance2 or 7iv7 is receiving a service that requires temporary removal of the face covering1 including a service with respect to a food or beverage2 or 7,c7 other circumstances1 as determined by the ,secretary1 provided that any exception under this subparagraph shall be approved by the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention and the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,allergy and ,infectious ,disease4 7#c7 ,appropriations 7,a7 ,in general ,there are hereby appropriated to the ,public ,health and ,social ,services ,emergency ,fund1 out of amounts in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 #e1jjj1jjj1jjj1 for transfer to the ,secretary for the purpose of awarding grants under paragraph 7#a74 7,b7 ,emergency designation 7i7 ,in general ,the amounts provided by this paragraph are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section #d7;g7 of the ,statutory ,pay-,as-,you-,go ,act of #bjaj 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #icc7;g774 7ii7 ,designation in ,senate ,in the ,senate1 this paragraph is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section #daab7;a7 of ,h4 ,con4 ,res4 #ga 7#aaeth ,congress71 the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year #bjah4 7b7 ,grants ,to promote face coverings 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary may award grants to ,states1 territories1 and ,tribal governments to promote access to1 and use of1 face coverings for the purpose of minimizing the risk of exposure to ,,covid-#ai1 including installing face covering dispensers in public4 7#b7 ,application ,to be eligible for a grant under this section1 a ,state1 territory1 and ,tribal government shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such form1 and containing such information as the ,secretary determines appropriate1 including a certification that the ,state will meet the requirements under paragraph 7#c74 7#c7 ,use of funds ,a ,state1 territory1 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-#ai in accordance with-- 7,a7 guidelines determined necessary by the ,secretary2 and 7,b7 guidelines provided by the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention with respect to the use of face coverings4 7#d7 ,appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #ge1jjj1jjj for the period of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbb4 7c7 ,definitions 7#a7 ,emergency period ,the term emergency period has the meaning given such term in section #aace7;g77#a77;,b7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acbj;b-#e7;g77#a77;,b774 7#b7 ,face covering ,the term face covering means any material that covers the nose and mouth of an individual4 #d4 ,face coverings required in ,federal facilities 7a7 ,face coverings required ,each ,federal agency shall take action to ensure that an individual is required to wear a face covering if such individual is-- 7#a7 inside a ,federal facility under the jurisdiction of such agency2 and 7#b7 within #f feet of another individual4 7b7 ,enforcement ,a ,federal agency may remove or deny service to an individual who fails to wear a face covering in accordance with subsection 7a74 7c7 ,provision of face coverings ,each ,federal agency shall make face coverings available at each entrance to a ,federal facility at which such agency maintains a presence4 7d7 ,funding ,a ,federal agency shall use funds otherwise appropriated to such agency to carry out this section4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section1 the following definitions apply3 7#a7 ,capitol ,buildings ,the term ,capitol ,buildings has the meaning given such term in section #eaja of title #dj1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,face covering ,the term face covering means any material that covers the nose and mouth of an individual4 7#c7 ,federal agency ,the term ,federal agency has the meaning given such term in section #ajb of title #dj1 ,united ,states ,code1 except that with respect to ,capitol ,buildings the ,office of the ,architect of the ,capitol shall be treated as the relevant ,federal agency4 7#d7 ,federal facility ,the term ,federal facility means-- 7,a7 a building or any part thereof owned or leased by the ,federal ,government for use by a ,federal agency2 and 7,b7 the ,capitol ,buildings or any part thereof4 7f7 ,termination ,the requirements of this section shall cease to have effect on the date on which the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,allergy and ,infectious ,diseases determines1 and publishes in the ,federal ,register a notification of such determination1 that the requirement to wear a face covering is no longer necessary to prevent transmission of ,,sars-,co,v-#b4