Tester Successfully Pushes Biden Administration to Expand Summer Hours at Port of Wild Horse

Following direct pressure from U.S. Senator Jon Tester on the Biden Administration, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that they will extend the summer hours of operation at the Port of Wild Horse.

“Expanding the summer hours of operation at the Port of Wild Horse is great news for Montanans along our northern border who rely on access with our number one trading partner to keep their businesses running, make a living, and support their families,” said Tester. “I told the Biden Administration that reduced hours of operation simply would not cut it during this busy season, and I’m glad to see they got the message. I’ll keep fighting until the hours of operation are restored at all of Montana’s northern ports of entry.”

In response to pressure from Tester, CBP announced that beginning June 9, the Port of Wild Horse will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. These seasonal hours will remain in effect until Sept. 30 when they revert to the winter schedule of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

In May, Tester sent a letter to CBP Commissioner Troy A. Miller urging the Administration to immediately expand summer hours for the Port of Wild Horse.

Tester has consistently been an outspoken critic of the Biden Administration’s refusal to reinstate pre-pandemic hours of service and extend summer hours at Montana’s northern ports of entry. Last July, Tester introduced bipartisan legislation to require CBP to match or exceed pre-pandemic hours at northern ports of entry.

Last year, Tester also led a bipartisan letter to CBP pressing the agency to return the hours of operations at northern ports of entry to pre-pandemic hours or, at minimum, match the operating hours of Canadian ports. He also sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urging an extension of the hours of operations at ports of entry in Montana.

Tester also called on the Biden Administration to fully reopen all ports of entry in Montana to pre-pandemic hours and terminate the vaccination requirements for Canadian truck drivers entering the United States through land ports of entry. His letter came directly after meeting with Montana farmers and business owners who rely on trade and travel across the northern border via Ports like Raymond, Opheim, and Morgan.

Montana shares a 545 mile border with Canada and is home to many border towns whose economies rely on Canadian trade and commerce. According to the Canadian Trade Commissioner, Canada is Montana’s top international trading partner, buying more from the state than the next six states combined. Reports by the U.S. Trade Representative estimate that Montana exported $692 million in goods to Canada is 2018, representing 42 percent of the state’s total goods exports.