Portman, colleagues request travel exemptions for U.S.-Canada border

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) joined a bipartisan group of 20 senators representing states along the United States-Canada border in seeking travel exemptions from the northern border’s March 21 closure, which is negatively impacting supply chain companies and local residents.

“We write to request that you carefully consider the implications of, and necessary exemptions to, the existing travel restrictions across the United States’ border with Canada and any additional closures that may occur in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Sen. Portman and his colleagues wrote in a March 20 letter sent to President Donald Trump.

“We also ask that you provide the appropriate exemptions to any domestic quarantines mandated by federal, state or local officials to ensure public health and safety,” they wrote.

Sen. Portman and the lawmakers wrote that while public health is the top consideration, it’s also critical that businesses that provide medical supplies and other essential goods “do not see their supply chains and workforce compromised by restrictions on travel domestically and across the U.S. border.”

“Federal agencies and the Coronavirus Task Force will need to coordinate closely to ensure the necessary exemptions are made to travel restrictions,” the senators wrote. “We ask that as you make decisions to restrict travel to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, you immediately communicate with the businesses and individuals regarding those restrictions.”

The members also urged Trump “to consider the impact of travel restrictions on families and communities situated along the northern border that often rely on travel to and from Canada, and in some cases, share essential services,” according to their letter.

“Of particular concern are individuals with family members in Canada and communities with deep economic ties across the border,” wrote Sen. Portman and his colleagues, who included U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).