Bowling Green Today

Last week, U.S. Senator Rand Paul’s (R-KY) amendment to streamline the layover of goods at CVG was signed into law by President Biden. Dr. Paul’s amendment, included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3935), begins the process of adding Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (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 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.”

Candace McGraw, CEO of CVG, expressed gratitude: “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 voiced support: “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 at Atlas Air Worldwide, stated: “Atlas thanks Senator Paul for his commitment to improving the efficiency and competitiveness of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport... [this] will help ensure that northern Kentucky continues to be a dominant air cargo hub.”

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 significant inefficiencies due to current inspection processes requiring couriers to transport goods elsewhere. The new law aims to address these issues.

The legislation also includes a provision allowing USFWS to accept donations from private entities, providing stakeholders in aviation and trade industries an opportunity to contribute towards necessary changes.

You can read Dr. Paul’s amendment HERE and learn more about his legislative win in his op-ed published in the Cincinnati Enquirer HERE.

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