FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 20, 2024
Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343
ICYMI: Dr. Rand Paul’s Legislation Designating CVG as USFWS Port of Entry Signed into Law by President Biden
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, in a win for the people of Kentucky and sound trade policy, U.S. Senator Rand Paul’s (R-KY) amendment to streamline the layover of goods at CVG was signed into law by President Biden. Dr. Paul’s amendment, which was included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3935), recognizes the pivotal role of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), one of the largest airports in cargo volume, by beginning the process of adding it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) list of Designated Ports. This designation authorizes CVG to directly process shipments of wildlife and wildlife-derived products, eliminating logistical nightmares, significantly reducing costs, and creating job opportunities for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
“Adding Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport as a Designated Port is a strategic move that enhances efficiency, reduces costs, creates jobs for Kentucky, and aligns it with the demands of global commerce,” said Dr. Paul. “My amendment is a win-win, not just for our Commonwealth but for the national economy.”
Dr. Paul’s legislation is supported by the following stakeholders and organizations:
“For several years, Senator Paul has worked with us and DHL to grow cargo at CVG, and that has most recently manifested in the FAA reauthorization bill passed last week by the U.S. Senate and today in the House of Representatives,” said Candace McGraw, CEO of CVG. “I am grateful to Senator Paul for championing an amendment to designate CVG as a port of entry for fish and wildlife products, enabling more growth for our region and for the Commonwealth. I thank Senator Paul and his staff for their work on this amendment and getting it included in this important legislation.”
“On behalf of DHL, we are thrilled to see Senator Paul’s amendment included in the FAA reauthorization,” said Andrew Williams, CEO for DHL Express Americas. “CVG airport is the only major express delivery hub in the U.S. that was not considered a Port of Entry by the Fish and Wildlife Service. With this designation, we will see speedier processing times for customers, more efficient transportation, and a fundamentally safer process for inspection of regulated goods. Senator Paul and CVG have all come together to help make a difference. Thank you.”
“Atlas thanks Senator Paul for his commitment to improving the efficiency and competitiveness of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport,” said Jamie Handley, Vice President, Systems Operations at Atlas Air Worldwide. “Senator Paul’s contributions to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 will help ensure that northern Kentucky continues to be a dominant air cargo hub for years to come.”
Despite its impressive 2022 (the latest year for which data is available) ranking as the sixth busiest cargo airport in the United States when CVG handled over eight billion pounds of landed cargo, the airport is currently grappling with significant inefficiencies. Presently, couriers at CVG must drive wildlife goods elsewhere for inspection by USFWS. For example, in some cases, couriers ship wildlife goods 100 miles to Louisville for inspection by USFWS, then return 100 miles back to CVG, and finally ship the goods to their intended destinations. Now that Dr. Paul’s amendment is law, it fixes this bureaucratic oversight and enables the rapid movement of goods through one of America’s busiest cargo hubs.
Additionally, this law includes a provision to allow USFWS to accept donations from private entities, providing an opportunity for stakeholders in the aviation and trade industries to contribute to the necessary changes that will include CVG among its designated ports.
You can read Dr. Paul’s amendment HERE, and can learn more about Dr. Paul’s legislative win in his op-ed published in the Cincinnati Enquirer HERE.
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