Bowling Green Today

Last week, 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, included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3935), begins the process of adding CVG to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) list of Designated Ports.

This designation will allow CVG to directly process shipments of wildlife and wildlife-derived products, eliminating logistical issues, reducing costs, and creating job opportunities for 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.”

The legislation has received support from various stakeholders and organizations.

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

“On behalf of DHL, we are thrilled to see Senator Paul’s amendment included in the FAA reauthorization,” said Andrew Williams, CEO for DHL Express Americas. “With this designation, we will see speedier processing times for customers and more efficient transportation.”

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

In 2022, CVG handled over eight billion pounds of landed cargo but faced significant inefficiencies due to the need to transport wildlife goods elsewhere for inspection by USFWS. With this new law in place, these bureaucratic issues will be addressed.

Additionally, the law includes a provision allowing USFWS to accept donations from private entities to facilitate necessary changes at CVG.