Northern Kentucky U.S. Representative Thomas Massie filed a lawsuit against the CDC to end the mask mandate for those traveling on commercial airlines.
Along with sixteen congressional colleagues, Massie said the lawsuit responds to President Joe Biden extending the CDC’s mask mandate to April 18.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not have the legal authority to force people traveling on commercial airlines to wear masks,” Massie said. “Congress never passed a law requiring masks on commercial flights. This lawsuit targets the faceless bureaucrats who are behind the CDC’s unscientific regulation so that this illegal mask mandate can be brought to a permanent end.”
There are two central claims to the Massie et al. v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the press release, and reads:
- “First, none of the statutes or regulations cited by the CDC for the authority to mandate that individuals wear masks on commercial airlines, conveyances, and at transportation hubs permit the CDC to implement or enforce this mandate.
- Second, even if Congress had granted the CDC the authority to promulgate the mask mandate, the granting of this authority would violate a principle known as the ‘”non-delegation doctrine.'”
In addition to Massie, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul joined the suit and is the lone member from the upper chamber of Congress.
“I’ve been leading the charge in the Senate to end these unscientific, unconstitutional mask mandates, and am proud to continue the fight by joining Rep. Massie on this effort,” Paul said.
In addition to Paul, here is the list of congress members: Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL), Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT), and Rep. Chip Roy, (R-TX).
Massie is one month away from the Kentucky Republican primary, where his closest challenger is roughly 65 points behind. He’ll most likely face Democratic challenger Matt Lehman from Newport, who wishes Massie would focus on actual issues.
“I flew dozens of times during the pandemic,” Lehman said. “Wearing a mask on flights was a mild inconvenience but likely limited the spread of the coronavirus, a serious and deadly disease that claimed 6 million lives worldwide. I wish Massie would focus his energy on actual issues currently endangering our security and prosperity.”