Tester plan would open 24-hour port at Wild Horse
By MARTIN J. KIDSTON - Independent Record - 11/6/07
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., introduced legislation Tuesday that would create Montana’s second 24-hour port of entry at Wild Horse, making it more convenient for Americans and Canadians to cross the border without worrying about the time of day.
Tester’s legislation, which would direct the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to keep the Port of Wild Horse open around the clock, is also aimed at trade with Alberta’s booming economy.
“American trade with Alberta is growing at a rapid rate,” Tester said during a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday. “Excluding pipeline shipments, Alberta’s exports to the U.S. have grown 86 percent over the last decade. America’s exports to Alberta have increased 75 percent.”
Montana’s border with Canada stretches nearly 500 miles from North Dakota to Idaho. Yet the state has just one 24-hour port of entry, that being the Port of Sweet Grass on Interstate 15 north of Shelby.
The Port of Wild Horse is on the Canadian border about 45 miles northwest of Havre, or roughly 150 miles east of Sweet Grass.
The Wild Horse port is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during winter months and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the summer. Tester noted that the U.S. sells $12.5 billion worth of goods to Alberta every year. Most of those goods enter Alberta through limited ports of entry on the Montana border, which are open largely during daylight hours only.
In his floor speech, Tester also highlighted the need for a second 24-hour port as Alberta develops its Oil Sands region. The project requires heavy machinery to cross the border.
It could also lead to secondary jobs in Montana.
“There are secondary benefits too, including new housing construction jobs, a bigger tax base, more security agents on the border, and more visitors to boost Havre’s economy,” Tester said.
Tester identified several studies now under way, each looking at the possibility of the second 24-hour port. Moving forward with the legislation now, he said, would shed light on the issue and allow more time to address staffing challenges within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“I have tried in my short time in the Senate to highlight and address these challenges,” Tester said. “The cost of ignoring economic growth in Alberta and the border-crossing needs in that region would be harmful to Montana’s economy and to our nation’s economy.”
Aaron Murphy, a Tester spokesman, said that because the legislation deals with trade, it will likely be referred to the Senate Finance Committee, which is chaired by Montana’s senior Sen. Max Baucus.
“This is a good, smart piece of legislation that will bring more jobs and opportunity to Montana,” Baucus said in a Tuesday press release. “Jon has worked very closely with the folks in Havre to make it happen, and I look forward to pushing his measure through the Finance Committee and on to the full Senate.”
Reporter Martin Kidston: 447-4086, or mkidston@helenair.com
Tester’s legislation, which would direct the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to keep the Port of Wild Horse open around the clock, is also aimed at trade with Alberta’s booming economy.
“American trade with Alberta is growing at a rapid rate,” Tester said during a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday. “Excluding pipeline shipments, Alberta’s exports to the U.S. have grown 86 percent over the last decade. America’s exports to Alberta have increased 75 percent.”
Montana’s border with Canada stretches nearly 500 miles from North Dakota to Idaho. Yet the state has just one 24-hour port of entry, that being the Port of Sweet Grass on Interstate 15 north of Shelby.
The Port of Wild Horse is on the Canadian border about 45 miles northwest of Havre, or roughly 150 miles east of Sweet Grass.
The Wild Horse port is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during winter months and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the summer. Tester noted that the U.S. sells $12.5 billion worth of goods to Alberta every year. Most of those goods enter Alberta through limited ports of entry on the Montana border, which are open largely during daylight hours only.
In his floor speech, Tester also highlighted the need for a second 24-hour port as Alberta develops its Oil Sands region. The project requires heavy machinery to cross the border.
It could also lead to secondary jobs in Montana.
“There are secondary benefits too, including new housing construction jobs, a bigger tax base, more security agents on the border, and more visitors to boost Havre’s economy,” Tester said.
Tester identified several studies now under way, each looking at the possibility of the second 24-hour port. Moving forward with the legislation now, he said, would shed light on the issue and allow more time to address staffing challenges within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“I have tried in my short time in the Senate to highlight and address these challenges,” Tester said. “The cost of ignoring economic growth in Alberta and the border-crossing needs in that region would be harmful to Montana’s economy and to our nation’s economy.”
Aaron Murphy, a Tester spokesman, said that because the legislation deals with trade, it will likely be referred to the Senate Finance Committee, which is chaired by Montana’s senior Sen. Max Baucus.
“This is a good, smart piece of legislation that will bring more jobs and opportunity to Montana,” Baucus said in a Tuesday press release. “Jon has worked very closely with the folks in Havre to make it happen, and I look forward to pushing his measure through the Finance Committee and on to the full Senate.”
Reporter Martin Kidston: 447-4086, or mkidston@helenair.com
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