SCHUMER URGES HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY TO SPEED UP BORDER CROSSING ON BUFFALO BILLS GAMEDAYS – SENATOR SAYS MORE SEAMLESS ENTRY ON GAMEDAY WILL BOLSTER BILLS LONG-TERM SUCCES IN WNY
Schumer Presses Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson During Senate Hearing – Urges DHS To Use Available Resources and Preclearance to Make It Easier For Bills Fans To Cross Into WNY From Canada On Gameday; Pushes Secretary To Commit To Meeting With Next Bills Owner To Develop Comprehensive Plan for Gamedays
Secretary Johnson Indicates Willingness To Help – Schumer Vows To Continue Pushing DHS To Make Gameday Border Crossing Speedy and to Avoid Maddening Traffic Back-Ups
Schumer: Speedy Gameday Border Crossing is a Key Ingredient for Bills’ Longterm Success in WNY
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, during a Senate hearing, urged Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to commit to speeding up the border crossing process between Canada and Buffalo on Buffalo Bills game days. Specifically, Schumer urged Johnson to consider adding more border patrol agents on the Peace Bridge during Buffalo Bills game days, and to commit to meeting with the next owner of the team to develop a comprehensive plan that can speed the flow of traffic across the border on game days. Schumer noted that more border patrol agents are being assigned to Western New York thanks to an additional $165 million Schumer helped to secure for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents as part of this year’s budget agreement. Schumer said that this increase in agents provides Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees CBP, the flexibility it needs to add more staff during peak border crossing hours, like game days.
Schumer explained that traffic pile-ups on game days can discourage fans from crossing the border from Canada to attend Bills games. Schumer said that any improvement in the border crossing process will make keeping the team in Buffalo more attractive to the next owner. Sixty-two percent of the Canadian population lives within 500 miles of Buffalo and an efficient border can help bring more of those Canadian fans to WNY on game day. During the hearing, Secretary Johnson confirmed that he was willing to help and would look into the issues Schumer raised. Schumer said he will continue to push Secretary Johnson and the Department of Homeland Security to dedicate the resources needed.
“Thousands of Bills fans cross into Buffalo from Canada at least eight Sundays per year in order to take in a game in person,” said Schumer. “Unfortunately, the process of crossing the border on game day can be arduous, which leaves many fans deciding to sit at home to watch Bills games instead of crossing into Buffalo to watch them play live. As we look into ways to make keeping the Bills in Western New York more attractive to a prospective owner, the problem of long border-crossing wait times on game days is something we need to fix. That is why I am urging the Secretary of Homeland Security to increase staffing on the border during game days and commit to meeting with the Bills next owner to develop a comprehensive plan. I will keep pushing Secretary Johnson in the months ahead.”
For a video recording of the Senate hearing, please click here. Senator Schumer’s remarks begin at 2:44:00.