Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik issued the following statement on today’s announcement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) banning entry into the U.S. across the northern border to nonessential travelers through September 21, 2021.
“Once again, President Biden has failed residents of the North Country and chosen to ignore my repeated calls to reopen our Northern Border,” Stefanik said. “The cost of President Biden’s inaction is devastating to North Country families, businesses, and communities hopeful that the United States would restore travel across the border. It is shameful that while the Canadian government has opened travel for fully vaccinated American travelers, President Biden would still deny northern border communities access to family, travel, and commerce. Even though it is past time for the Biden Administration to take action, I will not stop advocating for the residents of the North Country until our northern border is reopened.”
In June, Stefanik introduced the Restoring Northern Border Travel Act, which would require DHS 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.
Congresswoman Stefanik has met with several Members of Parliament to discuss strategies to reopen the U.S. – Canada border and sent letters to each of Canada’s provincial and territorial Premiers requesting their partnership and assistance. She applauded the Canadian government’s announcement that allowed fully vaccinated Americans to travel to Canada starting on August 9, 2021.
