The House of Representatives is set to vote this week on legislation that, if passed and signed into law, would remove the requirement for proof of a COVID-19 vaccine for non-U.S. citizens who seek to fly into the United States.
“But, if we can pass this, there’s a strong case for passing that soon.”
The summary of HR 185 reads: “This bill nullifies the order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention titled Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic and published on April 7, 2022. (The order restricts the entry of noncitizens who are not immigrants into the United States by air travel unless they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or otherwise attest that they will take public health measures to prevent the spread of the disease.)
“The bill also nullifies any successor or subsequent orders that require foreign persons traveling by air to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of entry and prohibits the use of federal funds to administer or enforce such a requirement.”
The U.S. Travel Association, a national nonprofit representing travel businesses, supports Massie’s proposed legislation.
“We have long supported the removal of this requirement and see no reason to wait until the May expiration of the public health emergency—particularly as potential visitors are planning spring and summer travel,” said Tori Emerson Barnes, executive vice president of public affairs and policy.
“The U.S. is the only country that still has this requirement for international visitors when there is no longer any public health justification. We thank the bill’s sponsors for their efforts to remove this outdated, COVID-era policy and normalize inbound travel operations.”
A “nonimmigrant” is someone who isn’t a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa.
The Biden administration in June 2022 had dropped its requirement for non-U.S., nonimmigrant citizens entering the United States by air to test negative for COVID-19.