Press Releases
Standing with Western New York Leaders, Kennedy Calls on Full House to Pass the NEXUS for Families Act
Buffalo, NY,
July 9, 2026
Tags:
Homeland Security
Following Unanimous Committee Approval, a Broad Coalition of Tourism, Business, and Cultural Organizations Urge Immediate Action to Cut Bureaucratic Red Tape for Border Communities BUFFALO, N.Y. – Today, standing alongside a diverse coalition of some of Western New York’s top economic, cultural, and tourism leaders at the foot of the Peace Bridge crossing to Canada, Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) called on the House of Representatives to immediately pass H.R. 9382, the NEXUS for Families Act. The push comes on the heels of the legislation successfully passing unanimously through the House Committee on Homeland Security last month. Surrounded by endorsing organizations in Buffalo, Kennedy emphasized the urgent need to eliminate the bureaucratic hurdles families currently face when applying for NEXUS passes, a vital tool that currently helps over 2.2 million vetted travelers cross the border between the United States and Canada. “Standing here today with the leaders who drive Western New York’s cultural and economic engines, the message to Washington is clear: it is time to pass the NEXUS for Families Act,” said Congressman Kennedy. “Traveling with a family is difficult enough even without adding the burden of multiple visits to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities for individual NEXUS interviews. In our region, visits to and from Canada are a routine activity that fuels our local economy. By streamlining the application and interview process, we’re cutting red tape and encouraging the cross-border travel and tourism that our local businesses and attractions rely on. This is common-sense legislation, and the House must bring it to a vote.” Under current regulations, parents must submit a separate application for each family member. This leads to a dysfunctional system where a child might receive approval while a parent is delayed, or vice versa. Families cannot currently interview together and must bring even young children to CBP facilities for individual screening, resulting in multiple, highly inconvenient trips to enrollment centers. The NEXUS for Families Act modernizes the process by requiring CBP to:
"Our partnership with Canada is fundamental to Buffalo's economy and to the everyday lives of many Western New Yorkers," Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan said. "Whether people are crossing the border for work, shopping, recreation, or to visit family, making that experience more efficient strengthens the ties that have long benefited communities on both sides of the border. I commend Congressman Kennedy for his leadership on this common-sense legislation to reduce unnecessary barriers for families participating in the NEXUS program."
New York State Senator April N.M. Baskin said, “Every day, thousands of Western New Yorkers cross the border to visit family and friends, travel for work, attend sporting events and concerts, or simply enjoy everything our Canadian neighbors have to offer. The NEXUS for Families Act is a commonsense improvement that will make travel easier for families while preserving the security standards that travelers expect and continuing the strong cross-border relationship that has long been vital to Western New York.” “For Western New York families and our neighbors to the north, the border is part of everyday life,” said New York State Senator Jeremy Zellner. “NEXUS helps keep our communities connected, and this commonsense legislation makes the program more accessible for parents and children while maintaining strong border security. I thank Congressman Kennedy for his leadership and urge Congress to move this bill forward.” Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “For families in Western New York, crossing the border into Canada isn’t just an occasional trip. Whether visiting relatives, attending events, shopping, or supporting local tourism, families deserve a NEXUS application process that works for them, not against them. Congressman Kennedy’s legislation takes a common-sense approach by reducing unnecessary paperwork, streamlining interviews, and making it easier for families to enroll and travel together. As someone who represents a community with deep ties to Canada, I applaud Congressman Kennedy for advancing this bipartisan effort to strengthen cross-border connectivity and support the economic and cultural relationship that has long united Western New York and our Canadian neighbors.” “As a current nexus pass holder, I understand the benefits for me and my family’s travel,” said Common Councilmember Rasheed N.C. Wyatt. “To expand this service to exempt children could be a game changer for families traveling trying to navigate the borders and TSA check points more expeditiously.” “We are excited to see tangible action being taken to make cross-border travel to Buffalo easier,” said Michelle Urbanczyk, President & CEO, Explore & More Children’s Museum. “We rely heavily on tourism in Western New York and hope that the passage of this bill will incentivize Canadian families to visit us more often.” “Employers across the Buffalo and Niagara regions rely on efficient cross-border movement every day to reach customers, manage supply chains, support tourism and hospitality, and maintain strong relationships with partners in Southern Ontario and beyond,” said Grant Loomis, President and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. “The NEXUS for Families Act is a commonsense step that would make trusted traveler enrollment more affordable for families, ease pressure at our border crossings, and help keep people, goods, and opportunity moving. The Buffalo Niagara Partnership urges the House to pass this legislation and support the border communities and employers that depend on a modern, efficient crossing system.” “The Canadian American Business Council (CABC) is pleased to endorse the NEXUS for Families Act,” said Beth Burke, CEO of the Canadian American Business Council. “This legislation helps reduce hurdles for families, strengthens U.S.-Canada connectivity and enhances the security that underpins our bilateral relationship. By streamlining the NEXUS program for families, this legislation encourages greater cross-border mobility and reinforces connectivity, benefiting communities on both sides of the border. We look forward to working with policymakers to continue modernizing cross-border travel and encourage Congress to move this legislation forward.” "As a family-oriented attraction located on the U.S.-Canadian border, we are grateful to Rep. Kennedy for his leadership in facilitating cross-border travel for Canadian families," said Chad Fifer, President & CEO, Aquarium of Niagara. "We join him in urging the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the NEXUS for Families Act and to send a clear message that Canadian families are always welcome to enjoy all that Niagara Falls and Western New York have to offer. Their visits strengthen tourism, support our regional economy, and foster connections between communities on both sides of the border." The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Mannion, Tenney, and LaLota. Endorsing organizations of the bill include: The AKG Art Gallery, Aquarium of Niagara, Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, Buffalo Bisons, Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Buffalo Sports Commission, Canadian American Business Council, Destination Niagara, Explore and More, Graycliff, the Mayor of Niagara Falls, New York State Restaurant Association, Niagara Aerospace Museum, Niagara Chamber of Commerce, Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Historic Site, The Richardson Complex, U.S. Travel, and Visit Buffalo. Congressman Kennedy is a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, co-chair of the Northern Border Caucus, and serves as the Ranking Member on the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee. ### |