Thomas Saves Wyo’s Sole Customs Office Senator’s legislation provides permanent Customs presence at NCIA
October 7th, 2005 - WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Craig Thomas announced today that Wyoming will not only retain its customs presence at the Natrona County International Airport (NCIA), but his efforts permanently designate the airport as a port of entry.
“Customs is critical to Wyoming’s economy and to ongoing Homeland Security efforts,” Thomas said. “I’m pleased to announce that a customs office will be funded at the Natrona County airport.”
“Wyoming’s sole port of entry needs to have a customs presence,” Thomas said. “This was a matter of safeguarding our state’s economic interests. Without these international flights, our state would give up business opportunities with companies like FedEx and other international companies,” Thomas said. “Securing a viable international connection protects another component of our economy and ensures that we continue to expand job opportunities in the future.”
The senator notified local officials about the good news this morning including NCIA Airport Director Cindy Martin.
After learning last fall that the Bureau of Customs and Border Patrol would eliminate funding for the Customs office in Wyoming, Thomas intervened by contacting then Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson (at DHS) and also had Customs sit down with airport officials to work out the problem.
Thomas crafted legislation after airport officials and Customs were unable to come to an agreement on how to pay for a full-time employee at the airport. Wyoming’s senior senator brought the stakeholders together to discuss the options after learning of the proposed closure.
NCIA houses the only Customs Service office in Wyoming and is the state’s only international entry point. There are more than 20 Canadian energy companies that are regularly cleared in Casper. Customs clears about 300 flights per year.
After initially fostering communication on the issue, Senator Thomas sought to delay any decision regarding the Customs Service at NCIA while he explored more permanent legislative options to ensure rural states like Wyoming maintain at least one port of entry.
Thomas amended the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill which passed the Senate in July. The conference committee approved the package last week and Senate passed the entire measure Friday morning.
