WASHINGTON - Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) and Congressman Andy Harris, MD (MD-01) sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Secretary Norris Cochran, U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Karl Schultz and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky asking they address burdensome and confusing masking mandates on commercial watermen. In February, the Coast Guard issued broad interpretive guidance as a result of President Biden’s national mask mandate, which stated that all commercial maritime vessels would be required to comply.
“A recent federal transportation mask mandate has been extended to all modes of transportation including commercial fishing vessels. The implications of this new mandate appear overly burdensome to many and certainly unclear to those it is intended to protect and in need of immediate clarification,” Congressmen Wittman and Harris wrote. “With spring and summer fishing seasons approaching we ask for clarification and further guidance on these new requirements that don’t impose unnecessary restrictions, needlessly increase enforcement actions and reflect the reality of the low prevalence [of COVID-19] environment on outdoor working fishing vessels.”
Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he serves as the Vice Ranking Member of the full Committee and Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.
Dear Secretary Cochran,
We are writing to echo the concerns of many of our constituents who make their living on the water, as fishermen, charter boat operators, or watermen. A recent federal transportation mask mandate has been extended to all modes of transportation including commercial fishing vessels. The implications of this new mandate appear overly burdensome to many and certainly unclear to those it is intended to protect and in need of immediate clarification.
As a result of President Biden’s January 21, 2021 Executive Order (13998), follow-on orders from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks While on Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs” and United States Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Information Bulletin 02-21 a federal mask mandate has been broadly extended/interpreted to include all commercial maritime vessels, without exception or reasonable accommodations.
While we certainly share the desired aim of reducing the spread of COVID-19, this unclear and overly broad mandate has led to confusion and frustration for commercial watermen, party boat operators, fisherman and others. This mandate as currently devised is simply unnecessary, unworkable and/or impractical for certain maritime modes of transportation, like fishing vessels.
Fortunately, we are seeing a decreasing number of COVID-19 cases and a rapidly expanding vaccination program that points to an ongoing recovery from the pandemic. With spring and summer fishing seasons approaching we ask for clarification and further guidance on these new requirements that don’t impose unnecessary restrictions, needlessly increase enforcement actions and reflect the reality of the low prevalence environment on outdoor working fishing vessels.
Thank you for your prompt and timely consideration of this important matter impacting the livelihood of a robust and vital maritime economy.
CC: Admiral Karl L. Schultz, U.S. Coast Guard
Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
