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WASHINGTON - North Dakota's congressional delegation is promoting legislation to require restoration of pre-pandemic hours of operation at northern border ports of entry.
Sen. John Hoeven and Congressman Kelly Armstrong, both R-ND, along with Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation in response to the announcement by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that it will reduce hours at certain northern ports of entry and maintain adjusted hours at others.
"CBP recently announced that it will not maintain extended hours at the Maida and Northgate ports of entry," Armstrong said. "This decision will make it harder to conduct business, particularly for farmers during the summer. Our bill will require CBP to extend operating hours at these northern border crossings and expand trade and cooperation with one of our closest allies."
Last April, CBP began a 120-day temporary expansion of operating hours at six ports of entry within the Seattle Field Office's area of operations, including Maida, Northgate and Sherwood in North Dakota, which each expanded operations by two hours through July 30. The ports have been operating 9 a.m.-7 p.m. rather than closing at 5 p.m.
After a review, CBP decided to maintain the expanded hours at Sherwood while hours at the Maida and Northgate ports of entry, near Langdon and Flaxton respectively, will return to the hours of operation before the temporary expansion.
"Our northern border communities, including in North Dakota, rely on legal trade and travel with Canada," Hoeven said. "That's why we've been pressing CBP to resume pre-pandemic hours of operation at northern border crossings. Doing so would enable goods and people to move more efficiently, helping to address supply chain issues while supporting our ag, energy and tourism industries, among other priorities."
"Life is back to normal, and we all know the COVID-19 pandemic is over," said Sen. Kevin Cramer, a co-sponsor of the legislation. "Instead of returning all Northern Border Port of Entry hours to pre-pandemic levels, North Dakotans and border communities are forced to contend with shorter hours. It's time to restore hours of operation at our border to previous levels and end this saga."