Long-awaited Canada border bill moves ahead in U.S. Congress
WASHINGTON — A bill to simplify crossing the Canadian-U.S. border moved ahead in the American Congress on Wednesday, with little time left to get it passed before lawmakers break to form a post-election legislature in the New Year.
It’s a long-awaited development.
The Harper and Trudeau governments both signed so-called preclearance deals with the Obama administration, but the arrangement required implementing legislation and U.S. lawmakers have not made it a priority.
The bill finally got some attention Wednesday evening. It sailed through the House of Representatives without objection. Lawmakers there urged the Senate to adopt it quickly, and make it law before breaking next week for the holidays.