{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fulcher.house.gov/2023/08/01/id-469b9645-65b4-407d-8ad8-8fdb6b339008/", "Fulcher, Risch, Crapo, Armstrong Lead on Legislation to Return Northern Ports to Pre-Pandemic Hours", "2023-08-01", "2023", "2023-08", "Republican", "House", "ID", "Russ Fulcher", "F000469", "fulcher.house.gov", "fulcher", "https://fulcher.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Recently, Congressman Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), Representatives Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) and with Senators James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), introduced legislation requiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection\u2019s hours of operations at northern ports to match or exceed pre-pandemic hours. The bill\u2019s creation was spurred by CBP\u2019s recent announcement that it will reduce hours at certain northern ports and maintain adjusted hours at others, including Porthill Port of Entry in Idaho.\n\n\u201cThe Public Health Emergency is over, and business needs to return to normal for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection ports of entry along the northern border,\u201d said Fulcher. \u201cI look forward to the permanent restoration of entry hours. The constituents I represent in Idaho deserve nothing less.\u201d\n\n\u201cCBP\u2019s failure to operate America\u2019s northern ports at pre-pandemic hours is detrimental to North Idaho\u2019s economy and way of life,\u201d said Risch. \u201cMy legislation would return northern ports to at minimum pre-pandemic hours and allow Idahoans to once again access vital commerce, tourism, trade, travel, and more.\u201d\n\n\u201cReturning ports of entry on America\u2019s northern border to longer, pre-pandemic hours is necessary for commerce and is essential to maintaining national security as a means to prevent illegal immigration,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cNorth Idaho\u2019s economy relies on the free flow of people and goods between our state and Canada. CBP must extend its operating hours to accommodate the needs on both sides of the border.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s important to many North Dakotans and our state\u2019s economy that ports of entry with Canada are accessible. CBP recently announced that it will not maintain extended hours at the Maida and Northgate ports of entry. This decision will make it harder to conduct business, particularly for farmers during the summer. Our bill will require CBP to extend operating hours at these northern border crossings and expand trade and cooperation with one of our closest allies,\u201d said Armstrong.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:30:18Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fulcher.house.gov/2023/08/01/id-469b9645-65b4-407d-8ad8-8fdb6b339008/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9091761894524097, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}