Customs Plaza Bill Would Strengthen Facilities at Busiest US Ports, Says Sponsor
The Customs Plaza Construction Act of 2014, introduced on Feb. 11, would provide funding to construct the New International Trade Crossing (NITC) at the U.S. -- Canada border and other federal customs plazas at U.S. ports of entry, said sponsor Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich., in a press release. The legislation would prioritize funding for facilities and buildings at the busiest ports in the country, according to the bill text, providing appropriations from 2015 through 2021. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and Canadian officials brokered the NITC agreement in 2012 (here), but construction has yet to begin.
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“The Detroit-Windsor border is one of the busiest and most important trade crossings in North America, and a new bridge here will create thousands of jobs in Southeast Michigan,” said Peters in the press release. “The project will make it easier for Michiganders and businesses in the region to trade with one of our most important trading partners in Canada. The new customs plaza is the critical next step for Michigan and our economy.”
The NITC is slated to cross between Detroit and Windsor, Canada, with the construction of a six-lane bridge over the Detroit River. “One of Michigan’s strongest assets is its position as the hub of the US-Canada trade relationship,” said Snyder, according to the Peters press release. “Investing in the infrastructure necessary to grow trade between the U.S. and Canada will yield an incredible return through increased economic activity and will create thousands of good paying jobs for Americans.”
The project would link I-75 and I-94 in Michigan to Highway 401 in Ontario. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and Michigan Farm Bureau, along with a number of other labor and industry organizations support the initiative, according to the release. “We are pleased to have support from Gov. Snyder and the mayor of Detroit, as well as the Chamber,” said a Peters spokeswoman. The Customs Plaza Construction Act of 2014 currently has no co-sponsors. The legislation was referred to the House Ways and Means and Homeland Security committees on Feb. 11. Spokeswomen from the committees declined to comment on support for the bill or prospective movement in the near future.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the bill text.