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. Dr. Paul’s 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 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 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 stated: “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 also acknowledged Dr. Paul's efforts: “Atlas thanks Senator Paul for his commitment to improving the efficiency and competitiveness of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.”
In 2022, CVG ranked as the sixth busiest cargo airport in the United States but faced significant inefficiencies due to couriers having to drive wildlife goods elsewhere for USFWS inspection. The new law aims to address these issues by enabling rapid movement through one of America’s busiest cargo hubs.
Additionally, this legislation includes a provision allowing USFWS to accept donations from private entities to support necessary changes at CVG.
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