North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik released the following statement ahead of President Biden’s meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau at the G-7 summit:

“Communities, families, and businesses along the U.S. – Canada border have been waiting over a year for meaningful collaboration and a plan to resume cross-border travel. I urge President Biden to discuss reopening the northern border with Prime Minister Trudeau at the G-7 and convey the immediate need to begin restoring normal travel between our two nations. Extending the current restrictions should not be an option and the Biden Administration must be ready to unilaterally begin the reopening process if the Canadian Government is unwilling to agree to a coordinated plan for reopening the northern border.”

Congresswoman Stefanik is a cosponsor of the Northern Border Reopening Transparency Act, legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and the Centers for Disease Control to produce a report on all information regarding efforts to reopen the U.S. – Canada border.

Last week, Congresswoman Stefanik sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas urging DHS to unilaterally ease restrictions for non-essential travel across the northern border if a bilateral reopening plan is not established before current restrictions expire on June 21, 2021.

In January, Congresswoman Stefanik led a bipartisan letter to President Biden outlining specific actions his administration should take to safely reopen the northern border.