Letter to the Hon. Donald J. Trump, President of the United States - Gianforte Urges President Trump to Open Montana's Border With Canada

Letter

Dear President Trump,

I want to thank you for your hard work in guiding our nation through these uncertain times. I write to you today to urge you to reopen the U.S.-Canada border in areas with low rates of COVID-19 infections.

Since March 21, 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Canadian authorities have banned all non-essential travel across the U.S.-Canadian border. This policy was driven by high rates of cases in New York, Michigan, Ontario, and Quebec.

Cross border travel and tourism is vital for Montana communities along the Canadian border. Montana and its three bordering Canadian provinces have had significantly lower rates of COVID-19 infections than areas along the East Coast. Montanans are unfairly paying for New York's mistakes and it is hurting our economy.

On May 21, 2020, I wrote Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan asking about what the government's plan is to reopen the border and have not received a response. Unfortunately, on June 16, 2020, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the border closure would extend until July 21, 2020.

I encourage you to use your authority as President to reopen the U.S.-Canadian border in areas with low infection rates. We need to get our country's economy back on track. Allowing cross border travel for agriculture, business, and tourism to resume will play an important part in jump starting that recovery. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

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