Bowling Green Today

On May 17, 2024, U.S. Senator Rand Paul's (R-KY) amendment to streamline the layover of goods at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) was signed into law by President Biden. The amendment was included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3935), and it recognizes CVG's crucial role as one of the largest airports in cargo volume.

The new law will allow CVG to be added to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) list of Designated Ports, authorizing it to directly process shipments of wildlife and wildlife-derived products. This change is expected to eliminate logistical issues, significantly reduce costs, and create 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.”

Several stakeholders and organizations have expressed their support for Dr. Paul’s legislation:

Candace McGraw, CEO of CVG said: “For several years, Senator Paul has worked with us and DHL to grow cargo at CVG... I am grateful to Senator Paul for championing an amendment to designate CVG as a port of entry for fish and wildlife products."

Andrew Williams, CEO for DHL Express Americas said: “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."

Jamie Handley, Vice President, Systems Operations at Atlas Air Worldwide said: “Atlas thanks Senator Paul for his commitment to improving the efficiency and competitiveness of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.”

Despite its 2022 ranking as the sixth busiest cargo airport in the United States, CVG has been grappling with significant inefficiencies. Currently, couriers at CVG must drive wildlife goods elsewhere for inspection by USFWS. This process often involves shipping wildlife goods 100 miles to Louisville for inspection by USFWS, then returning 100 miles back to CVG, and finally shipping the goods to their intended destinations. Dr. Paul’s amendment addresses this bureaucratic oversight and enables the rapid movement of goods through one of America's busiest cargo hubs.

The law also includes a provision allowing USFWS to accept donations from private entities, offering stakeholders in the aviation and trade industries an opportunity to contribute to necessary changes that will include CVG among its designated ports.