Decision to Keep Land Border with Canada Closed Roils Lawmakers

September 27, 2021 by Dan McCue
Decision to Keep Land Border with Canada Closed Roils Lawmakers
In this June 8, 2021, a car heads into the U.S. from Canada at the Peace Arch border crossing in Blaine, Wash. Canada is lifting its prohibition Monday, Aug. 9, on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit, but the United States is keeping similar restrictions in place for Canadians. AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

WASHINGTON – The Biden administration’s decision to extend travel restrictions at its land border with Canada is causing consternation among some members of Congress.

The White House announced the decision to continue to bar nonessential travel by land between the two countries last week, just as it was announcing new rules to allow air travel into the U.S. from a host of other countries.

The U.S. extended the current prohibition another 30 days, until Oct. 21, despite the fact Justin Trudeau’s government has fully opened its border to vaccinated Americans.

And the decision has upset a number of senators and House members who say that cross-border traffic is vital to their state’s economy.

Among them is Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who joined a number of other senators in penning a letter to President Joe Biden, asking him to allow vaccinated Canadians to travel to the U.S. through all ports of entry, regardless of the nature of their visit.

Gillibrand argues the land border closure has placed severe economic strains on the supply chains of New York businesses, hospitals, and medical equipment providers that rely on travel across the northern border to stay afloat and produce essential goods and services. 

“New York and Canada have a valuable economic partnership that has been deeply affected by travel restrictions put in place to prioritize the health and safety of so many New Yorkers who live along the border. However, the circumstances have changed and it’s time to allow fully vaccinated Canadians to travel safely into the United States across the northern border,” Sen. Gillibrand said in a written statement. 

“Countless New Yorkers and medical providers depend on travel across the northern border to stay afloat. I am encouraged by President Biden’s announcement to ease travel restrictions in the EU, UK, and parts of Asia starting in November, and I encourage the administration to make reopening the Canadian land border a top priority,” she said.

The other signers of the letter were, Sens. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, Gary Peters, of Michigan, Debbie Stabenow, of Michigan, Angus King, of Maine, Maggie Hassan, of New Hampshire, and Jeanne Shaheen, of New Hampshire, all of them Democrats.

Also opposing the administration’s decision is Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who said the prolonged closure is “devastating” northern New York.

“On the same day the Biden administration announced it will start to ease foreign travel restrictions with several countries, including China and Iran, President Biden still refuses to even establish a clear plan for reopening the northern border,” Stefanik said in a written statement. 

“It’s past time for this administration to do its job, so members of the North Country can be reunited with families, tourism can resume, and small businesses no longer have to suffer from this administration’s failure. This prolonged closure has been devastating for our region, and New York deserves better,” she said.

In June, Stefanik introduced the Restoring Northern Border Travel Act, which would require the Department of Homeland Security to expand the categories of permitted travel into the U.S. across the U.S. – Canada border to include individuals traveling to visit family members or property in the U.S., attend business meetings or site-visits, or access U.S. airports. 

This bill would also require DHS to begin implementing and submit to Congress a plan to fully restore nonessential travel into the U.S. at the northern border. 

But the Biden administration has said it’s not ready to ease the border crossing restrictions just yet.

“We’re continuing to evaluate and make policy decisions,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said during a Sept. 23 press briefing, adding that when it came to lifting travel restrictions related to various countries, “we wanted to do it in a way that was equitable.”

A+
a-

In The News

Health

Voting

Congress

March 27, 2024
by TWN Staff
Rep. Cleaver New Co-Chair of House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus

WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency... Read More

WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. He was invited to serve as co-chair by Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the co-chairs of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy... Read More

March 27, 2024
by Dan McCue
New Dem Chair Kuster Announces Retirement Following 2024 Election

CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition... Read More

CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition in the House, revealed Wednesday that she will not seek reelection to Congress this year. In a lengthy statement released by her office, Kuster gives no... Read More

March 25, 2024
by Dan McCue
CPAC Releases Ranking of Most Conservative Members of Congress

WASHINGTON — The Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, on Monday released its annual ranking of members of... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, on Monday released its annual ranking of members of the House and Senate based on their conservative bona fides or lack thereof. To produce this year’s scorecard, the CPAC foundation’s Center for Legislative Accountability analyzed... Read More

March 22, 2024
by Dan McCue
After a Decade on Capitol Hill, Brad Howard Steps Out on His Own

WASHINGTON — After a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff for former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.,... Read More

WASHINGTON — After a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff for former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., and communications director of the Blue Dog Coalition, Brad Howard knew it was time for change. “It was time to move into the private sector,” he... Read More

March 22, 2024
by Dan McCue
Greene Files Motion to Vacate Speaker’s Chair

WASHINGTON — For the second time in five months, a member of the Republican Conference in the House has filed... Read More

WASHINGTON — For the second time in five months, a member of the Republican Conference in the House has filed a motion to vacate the chair of the party’s speaker. But this time, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., says the motion is intended merely as a... Read More

March 22, 2024
by Dan McCue
Gallagher to Leave Congress April 19

WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who already announced he would not seek reelection, surprised many on Capitol Hill on... Read More

WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who already announced he would not seek reelection, surprised many on Capitol Hill on Friday by announcing he plans to leave April 19, several months before his current term is up. Gallagher’s impending departure will further shrink the razor-thin Republican... Read More

News From The Well
scroll top