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Washington, D.C.— Today, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) joined Representative Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) and the other Republican members of the Minnesota delegation in a letter to President Biden urging an end to all COVID-related travel restrictions for Canadians visiting the United States.

Emmer said, “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,” Emmer concluded.

"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."

Background:

The Government of Canada ended all its COVID-related travel restrictions on October 1, 2022, but the United States has not reciprocated.

Canada is Minnesota’s closest trading partner, with cross-border trade valued at $720 billion prior to the pandemic.

Last year, Emmer led a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas requesting a plan for ending  COVID procedures at the Canadian border.

You can read Emmer’s most recent letter in full here.

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