Thursday, November 21, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Thursday, May 21, 2020
FAA OKs Testing of Tourists
By Rep Gene Ward @ 12:23 AM :: 3793 Views :: Tourism, COVID-19

FEDS GIVE GREEN LIGHT TO TEST TOURISTS BEFORE ARRIVAL

“Promises quicker and safer opening of our economy”

News Release from Reps Bob McDermott and Gene Ward May 20, 2020

HONOLULU—Rep. Gene Ward (R-17 Hawaii Kai, Kalama Valley), after working with the White House for weeks seeking clarification if Hawaii could require COVID-19 testing for all visitors before arrival, today received word that nothing in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) regulations that prohibits the state from requiring such testing.

“This is the breakthrough we have been waiting for," said Rep. Ward. "It signals to the Governor and the Legislature that they can now act to safely and systematically open our visitor industry." "While testing visitors before arrival is not fail-safe, it is the best bet we have for protecting our flight attendants, airline crew, hotel workers, visitors, and locals alike."

The only caveat, Ward was told, was that a passenger could not be refused entry onto the plane without a test. However, the passenger would knowingly be under a 14-day mandatory quarantine and tested upon arrival.

"The priority of our plan is to protect our local residents while also allowing them to safely provide for their families. We have a moral and civic duty to do this," said Rep. Bob McDermott (R-40 Ewa, Ewa Villages, Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point), a member of the House Select Committee on COVID-19. "Now that the FAA and DOT have cleared the way, the sky's the limit."

Representatives Ward and McDermott spent the past two months researching and seeking input for their publication released this week to the House Select Committee on COVID-19 entitled "Making Hawaii Safe for Travel." The 23-page framework outlines the full COVID-19 testing procedures, its logic, and practical applications to restart Hawaii's visitor industry without creating a second wave of COVID-19.

“Bottom line: Today is great news for Hawaii. It shows we’re on the right track to reopen our economy safely and in the best interest of our communities," they concluded.

###

KITV: Feds give green light to test tourists prior to their arrival in Hawaii -- Nothing in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) regulations that prohibits the state from requiring such testing.

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii