CTA Lauds Northern Border Caucus, Asks Senate/House Committees to Join Call to Action to Remove U.S. Border Vaccine Restrictions
Oct 20, 2022
The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is praising a recent statement by the Congressional Northern Border Caucus requesting the Biden Administration ease COVID-19 entry requirements at the land border, with the Alliance asking U.S. Senate and House Committees to reiterate this call to allow all non-U.S. citizens the ability to enter the country to support Canada-U.S. trade and commerce.
The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, Representatives Brian Higgins (D-NY) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY), issued the following statement on this topic, which illustrates the positive benefits this policy change would have for the northern border economy. They also highlight that the Canada-U.S. partnership has been crucial to the success and prosperity of both our nations.
This statement comes after the Government of Canada announced the removal of all COVID-19 entry restrictions, as well as testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada, effective October 1, 2022.
CTA recently wrote to the Co-Chairs to thank them for their support and encourage them to continue to engage the Biden Administration on this issue. The correspondence also highlighted the significant benefits this policy change would have on available truck capacity, by allowing over 10,000 Canadian truck drivers to once again support U.S. exports into Canada, protect U.S. businesses, and by extension, U.S. jobs.
CTA further reinforced these comments in recent letters to various U.S. Congressional Committees that have a jurisdictional stake in this matter, asking that they reiterate the comments of the Northern Border Caucus. These committees include: the Senate Committee on Homeland Security; the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; the House Committee on Homeland Security; and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The Alliance further illustrated the importance of removing these restrictions as a looming recession casts uncertainty about the economic stability ahead, and highlighting the importance of working together to remove unnecessary barriers and impediments that could damage our resiliency and the efficiency of our integrated economies in the months to come.
These actions follow a joint letter being sent with the American Trucking Associations (ATA) to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, as well as a call to action to the Council of Governors and National Governors Association to remove these entry restrictions at the U.S. land border.
CTA continues to actively engage U.S. officials on this matter and will inform CTA members of any changes as they become available.