By Robert Williams

Editor

Last week, Rep. Michelle Fischbach led a letter from the Minnesota Republican delegation to President Biden urging him to end all COVID-related travel restrictions, as the rest of North America has.

“If the pandemic is “over,” as the president claims, there should be no reason for any pandemic-related travel restrictions,” said Rep. Fischbach. “Continuing these illogical regulations, especially after all our neighbors have lifted theirs, is at minimum irritating for travelers, and, at worst, a threat to our already hurting economy. It is time to remove all restrictions on travelers entering the United States.”

Canada lifted all COVID-related travel restrictions on Oct. 1, leaving the U.S. as the only country left in North America to impose any pandemic-era restrictions on travel.

“Ongoing restrictions at our Canadian border are not supported by science or necessary for public health. They should have ended long ago. Every day these unnecessary restrictions stay in place, Minnesota suffers. We must return to sanity and reinstate unobstructed travel across our northern border,” said Congressman Emmer.

Other Minnesota representatives echoed the same sentiments.

“President Biden said it himself, the pandemic is over. Our northern border communities are suffering as these unnecessary pandemic era restrictions are preventing Northland businesses from recovering and families from being reunited,” said Rep. Stauber. “It is time for the United States to join the rest of the countries in North America and end these outdated policies.”

The U.S. Travel Association has continually urged the Biden administration to fully ease COVID-related travel restrictions. The USTA believes lifting the restrictions will help ensure overall economic growth and the continued recovery in the domestic travel sectors.

“We are more than two and a half years since COVID was declared a pandemic, and the U.S. is still enforcing unnecessary testing requirements or requiring proof of vaccination at its international borders,” said Rep. Finstad. “These restrictions are not only burdensome to travelers, but have had a direct impact on commerce between the U.S. and our closest trade partner, Canada, by disrupting the supply chain and fueling inflation for American consumers. It is time for the U.S. to join our neighbors and do what should have been done long ago: fully normalize our borders and get back to regular business.”