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 amendment, part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3935), aims to streamline cargo operations at CVG, one of the largest airports in terms of cargo volume.

The new designation will allow CVG to directly process shipments of wildlife and wildlife-derived products, reducing logistical challenges and costs while creating job opportunities in 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.

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 supported 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 from Atlas Air Worldwide noted that the amendment would improve efficiency at CVG: “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, CVG was ranked as the sixth busiest cargo airport in the United States but faced inefficiencies due to current inspection processes requiring couriers to transport goods long distances before returning them to CVG. The new law addresses these issues by allowing direct inspections at CVG.

Additionally, the legislation includes a provision permitting USFWS to accept donations from private entities to facilitate necessary changes at designated ports like CVG.

For further details on Dr. Paul’s amendment and his legislative achievements related to this matter can be found in his op-ed published in the Cincinnati Enquirer.