Stefanik and Daines demand Pelosi, Schumer advance bill to reopen Canadian border, as Biden keeps it closed

House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik and Sen. Steve Daines, who represent border communities, are asking congressional leaders to call votes on a bill that would force the president to open the Canadian border.

"It is past time for Congress to act and bring long-overdue relief to families and businesses in northern border communities, who have suffered nearly 18 months of hardship and uncertainty due to the travel restrictions," they added.  The border closure has been extended over and over since the beginning of the pandemic, most recently on Aug. 20 when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the closure will extend until Sept. 21 at least. Daines and Stefanik argue that the continued closure is not justified in light the progress the U.S. has made in fighting the pandemic, like vaccines.