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 was signed into law by President Biden yesterday. 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 United States.

Dr. Paul emphasized the significance of this move for both Kentucky and national trade policy. "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 new designation will allow CVG to directly process shipments of wildlife products, thereby eliminating logistical challenges, reducing costs, and creating job opportunities in Kentucky.

Candace McGraw, CEO of CVG, expressed her 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, also supported the amendment: "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 from 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.”

In 2022 alone, CVG handled over eight billion pounds of landed cargo but faced inefficiencies due to current inspection protocols requiring goods to be transported significant distances before final shipment. The new law aims to resolve these issues by enabling more efficient movement through one of America's busiest cargo hubs.

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

Further details about Dr. Paul's legislative efforts can be found in his op-ed published in the Cincinnati Enquirer.