U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) last week announced his appointment to the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, which provides a forum for exchanges between Canadian and American legislators.
“I am thankful that House Minority Leader McCarthy appointed me to this position as my district benefits from the special relationship held between the U.S. and our neighbors to the north, and I want to do everything in my power to help this relationship flourish,” said Rep. Stauber, who plans to voice his concerns during discussions over the March 21 shutdown of the U.S.-Canadian border to non-essential travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This appointment could not have happened at a better time, as I am headed to International Falls in the morning to visit the U.S.-Canadian border and hear from Minnesotans whose businesses have been suffering since the border closed to non-essential travel,” Rep. Stauber said on Friday. “I plan to bring what I hear from my constituents back to discussions with this group, and hopefully we can come to a timely and fair resolution.”
Since the U.S.-Canadian border shutdown, Rep. Stauber has heard from several concerned constituents from border towns in his home state and congressional district where their businesses are suffering, according to the congressman’s staff.
Rep. Stauber also has been contacted by a number of Minnesotans who own cabins across the border in Canada and are frustrated that they haven’t been able to maintain or enjoy their property during the summer months, his staff said.
Since May, Rep. Stauber has advocated for the reopening of the U.S.-Canadian border and has contacted numerous U.S. and Canadian agencies. He remains in conversations with them as the July 21 deadline approaches for reconsideration of reopening the border.