Officials push for improved Northern Border oversight

WASHINGTON, D.C. | U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik is leading calls for more oversight of U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel budgets recently blamed for longer delays in Northern Border travel. "Our Northern Border communities have suffered enough from the prolonged closure and restriction to travel," Stefanik said Sept. 6 during a renewed push for advocacy. "There should be no reason for any more delays, and it is unbelievable that CBP is misusing its federal resources at the expense of my constituents. After more than a year of advocacy, Northern Border travel and tourism finally resumed and begun to return to pre-pandemic levels, and I will continue to provide critical oversight on behalf of our Northern Border communities, families, and economy." North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said "This is the latest example of the continuing policy mismanagement of the U.S.-Canadian border by both federal governments. Just as we are getting people traveling again, we are told to prepare for delays. We thank Congresswoman Stefanik and Senator Schumer for their outreach and hope we can avert moving backwards at our northern border when we need to keep moving forward." Stefanik said after hearing widespread criticisms from constituents and raising concerns at 'the highest level', she was informed that CBP was not properly using its resources appropriated to return to pre-pandemic levels of travel. "Constituents I represent have already contacted me with concerns regarding excessive wait times as a result of lower levels of CBP manpower at a number of Ports of Entry across the Northern Border. I remind you that Congress appropriated $650 million for Fiscal Year 2022 to offset any reduction in fee revenue as cross-border travel recovers to its pre-pandemic level, making it inexcusable that CBP failed to appropriately budget these taxpayer resources and must now compensate through reductions in operational capacity. As we continue on the path towards restoring normal travel between the U.S. and Canada, increasing barriers to cross-border travel is unacceptable, especially as a result of negligence in budgetary planning," Stefanik wrote as she also requested information from CBP to ensure a plan is in place so current disruptions do not continue.

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Officials push for improved Northern Border oversight

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