Travel curbs eased in bill

The United States has pre-clearance facilities at 15 airports in six countries, including Canada. These facilities allow travelers to pass through CBP inspections prior to traveling.

Under this agreement, the United States will create additional pre-clearance opportunities in Canada. For the first time in history, these opportunities will be applied to train stations.

Additionally, the bill ensures U.S. legal authority to hold U.S. officials accountable if they engage in wrongdoing while stationed in Canada.

Ms. Stefanik spoke about the bill on the House floor Wednesday.

“This significant, bipartisan legislation is great news for U.S.-Canadian relations,” she said. “It maintains a positive working relationship with border officials, especially in rural regions like ours in the north country, and it allows for facility sharing along the border.”

The Canadian version of the bill still needs to be passed, according to CBCNews, but approval is expected.

Garry F. Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, said the legislation will streamline operations on both sides of the border.

“When fully approved by Congress and the Canadian Parliament, it will set the stage for many practical arrangements at our northern border, allowing each country’s border agencies to undertake their functions on the other side when that is the best way to keep things moving,” he said in a statement. “This will include the preclearance of Amtrak passengers in Montreal, eliminating the need for long stoppages at the border, and it is expected to allow Canadian border officials to operate on the Massena side of the Seaway Bridge crossing, also allowing more efficient operations.”