Maine and New Hampshire Senators Call on President to Ease Restrictions on U.S.-Canada Travel

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) called on President Trump to reevaluate the ongoing restrictions currently placed on non-essential travel across the U.S.-Canada border.  At this time, the risks of significant cross-border transmission of COVID-19 in numerous border jurisdictions appear to be low.

“The protracted closure of the world’s longest international land border to all but essential travel has put immense strain on the communities that straddle the border,” the Senators wrote.  “Many people that reside along our shared border with Canada are part of remote, rural communities which rely on one another for essential supplies and services,”

“We appreciate the need to limit nonessential travel into the United States and Canada in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the populations of our respective nations,” the Senators continued.  “However, just as individual states, provinces, and territories have taken actions to address their unique situations, we believe that border restrictions should reflect the actual, localized risk on both sides of the border.”

In March, the Senators called on the President to consider necessary exemptions to protect public health and safety for businesses and individuals affected by the closure of the U.S.-Canadian border to non-essential travel. 

Click HERE to read the full letter.

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