Press Releases

September 20, 2021 (Washington, D.C.) – Rep. Beyer (D-VA) today responded to reports that the Biden-Harris Administration would institute a new requirement that international travelers be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 before entering the United States. Beyer is the author of the Safe Travel Act, which would require full Covid vaccination or a negative test for domestic air and Amtrak travel.

“This is a smart decision which will protect travelers, promote vaccination, and help reunite people abroad with their American families, friends, and colleagues,” said Beyer. “I am also glad to see that the Administration is considering extending this requirement to domestic travel, which is what my bill, the Safe Travel Act, would do. It would make a huge difference, significantly improving both safety for travelers and Americans’ comfort about traveling, and further encouraging Americans who have not yet done so to get their safe, free, lifesaving vaccine. I strongly encourage the Administration to take this additional step.”

Beyer serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, which has partial jurisdiction over health policy. He previously introduced a bill to require healthcare providers to be vaccinated, and introduced a provision which ultimately made Covid vaccines free to the American people. He is the author of the bipartisan COVID-19 Long Haulers Act, and was one of the first rank-and-file Members of Congress to receive their vaccine.