Senate Approves Durbin Amendment to Designate Mascoutah's MidAmerica Airport as a U. S. Port of Entry

SENATE APPROVES DURBIN AMENDMENT TO DESIGNATE MASCOUTAH'S MIDAMERICA AIRPORT AS A U.S. PORT OF ENTRY

An amendment offered by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) to designate MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois as a port of entry for international air cargo was unanimously approved by the Senate this week. Senator Durbin's measure was an amendment to the fiscal year 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which passed the Senate Thursday night.

"Last year, I met with Congressman Jerry Costello and community leaders in St. Clair County," said Durbin. "They made a very compelling case for MidAmerica Airport's need for port of entry status and gave several recent examples of problems encountered at the airport on both passenger flights and freight shipments, due to MidAmerica's lack of port of entry status. The Senate's action will help move the airport and the community closer to that goal."

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is the civilian counterpart to Scott Air Force Base. MidAmerica is currently classified as a Foreign Trade Zone and is a finalist to be classified as an interior transshipment point for international air cargo.

Durbin noted that international air cargo transport is presently non-existent in the region. Granting MidAmerica port of entry status would give the airport a means to enhance the economy in the Metro East area.

"In addition to the homeland security benefits, a port of entry designation for MidAmerica would help spur economic development in the Metro East and St. Louis region," Durbin said. "I look forward to working with Congressman Costello to ensure that this important provision remains in the bill when the Homeland Security Appropriations bill is considered by a joint House-Senate conference committee in the coming weeks."

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=240721&&