“It is both a humanitarian issue for families (on both sides of the Canada’U.S. border) who have been separated for a year and a half and an economic issue for border communities like the Buffalo-Niagara region which rely on Canadian visitors to feed the economy.” – Buffalo, New area Congressman Brian Higgins
Congressman Higgins Also Calls for Funding to Support Adequate Staffing at U.S. – Canada Border
A News Release from the Buffalo, New York Office of Democratic U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins
Posted August 18th, 2021 on Niagara At Large
Buffalo, New York Area Congressman Brian Higgins, speaking at a news conference with the Niagara River and Peace Bridge in the background. file photo
Buffalo, New York – Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) is pushing for the United States to lift border restrictions at the U.S.-Canada border and is urging adequate funding to support staffing levels that allow for efficient operations when the border reopens.
In 1986 user fee collection was put in place to help offset U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection costs at land, air and sea ports. Travel restrictions extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic decreased fee collection.
Last fall, Congress approved $840 million in emergency appropriations to fill custom fee revenue gaps created by pandemic border restrictions and to ensure adequate staffing levels at land ports of entry in Fiscal Year 2021.
U.S. government continues to keep border crossings closed to Canadian visitors. Canada opened crossings to American visitors on August 9th.
Higgins is calling for similar resources for federal Fiscal Year 2022 which begins in October, writing in a letter to House of Representatives appropriators<https://higgins.house.gov/sites/higgins.house.gov/files/081821%20User%20Fees%20CBP.pdf>, “The FY22 Homeland Security Appropriations bill must address these ongoing revenue shortfalls. Until US-Canada border operations normalize, I expect these revenue shortfalls to persist.”
“In addition, this bill is an opportunity to ensure land ports of entry have adequate staffing and robust funding for border infrastructure which will make international travel and commerce more efficient and more secure. I wholly support a funding bill which makes these necessary and forward-thinking investments.”
The U.S. – Canada border first closed to non-essential travel in March 2020.
On August 9, 2021, the Canadian government reopened the border to allow vaccinated Americans to enter Canada.
The U.S. government failed to reciprocate, instead extending travel restrictions for another 30-days. The existing order is set to expire on August 21.
Line-ups of Canadians on the U.S. side of the Peace Bridge are becoming a distant memory.
Higgins, who serves as Co-Chair of the Canada – U.S. Interparliamentary Group, has been pushing for the U.S. to reopen its border to Canadians insisting it is both a humanitarian issue for families who have been separated for a year and a half and an economic issue for border communities like the Buffalo-Niagara region which rely on Canadian visitors to feed the economy.
“The inability to account for this lost revenue threatens to disrupt the resumption of normal cross-border travel and commerce along the northern border,” added Higgins.
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