Bowling Green Today

On May 16, President Biden signed into law an amendment by U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) that designates the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Port of Entry. This amendment, part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3935), aims to streamline the processing of wildlife and wildlife-derived products at CVG.

"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."

Candace McGraw, CEO of CVG, expressed gratitude for Senator Paul's efforts: "I am grateful to Senator Paul for championing an amendment to designate CVG as a port of entry for fish and wildlife products, enabling more growth for our region and for the Commonwealth."

Andrew Williams, CEO for DHL Express Americas, also praised the legislation: "With this designation, we will see speedier processing times for customers, more efficient transportation, and a fundamentally safer process for inspection of regulated goods."

Jamie Handley, Vice President of Systems Operations at Atlas Air Worldwide added: "Senator Paul’s contributions to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 will help ensure that northern Kentucky continues to be a dominant air cargo hub for years to come."

In 2022 alone, CVG handled over eight billion pounds of landed cargo but faced inefficiencies due to its lack of designation as a USFWS Port of Entry. Couriers previously had to transport goods significant distances for inspection before returning them to CVG. The new law rectifies this issue.

The legislation also includes provisions allowing USFWS to accept donations from private entities in support of necessary changes at CVG.

For further details on Dr. Paul's amendment and his op-ed published in the Cincinnati Enquirer can be accessed online.

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