Bowling Green Today

Last week, in a significant development for Kentucky and trade policy, 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 allows CVG to directly process shipments of wildlife and wildlife-derived products, reducing logistical challenges, cutting costs, and 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. “My amendment is a win-win, not just for our Commonwealth but for the national economy.”

The legislation has garnered 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, enabling more growth for our region and for the Commonwealth.”

“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, more efficient transportation, and a fundamentally safer process for inspection of regulated goods.”

“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.

Despite being ranked as the sixth busiest cargo airport in the United States in 2022 when it handled over eight billion pounds of landed cargo, CVG has faced inefficiencies due to couriers needing to transport wildlife goods elsewhere for USFWS inspection. For instance, couriers sometimes drive 100 miles to Louisville for inspections before returning to CVG and then shipping goods to their destinations. Dr. Paul’s amendment addresses this issue by enabling faster movement through one of America’s busiest cargo hubs.

The new law also includes a provision allowing USFWS to accept donations from private entities—an opportunity for stakeholders in aviation and trade industries to contribute towards necessary changes that will include CVG among its designated ports.

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