Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul’s amendment to designate the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Port of Entry has been signed into law by President Biden. The legislation, included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3935), aims to streamline the processing of wildlife and wildlife-derived products at CVG, one of the largest cargo airports in the country.

"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 towards Senator Paul: "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, stated: "On behalf of DHL, we are thrilled to see Senator Paul’s amendment included in the FAA reauthorization... With this designation, we will see speedier processing times for customers."

Jamie Handley, Vice President of Systems Operations at Atlas Air Worldwide, also praised the legislation: "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."

Despite being ranked as the sixth busiest cargo airport in 2022 with over eight billion pounds of landed cargo, CVG faced inefficiencies due to couriers having to transport wildlife goods elsewhere for inspection by USFWS. This new law addresses these logistical challenges by allowing direct processing at CVG.

Additionally, it includes a provision enabling USFWS to accept donations from private entities to facilitate necessary changes.