PRIA Logo™
119-s-677119th Congress

Border Airport Fairness Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

Introduced

Summary

Would end the customs user fee for certain border-area airports. It would direct the President to designate qualifying primary airports within 30 miles of the northern or southern land border as ports of entry, and to terminate the user fee requirement for customs services at those airports.

Show full summary
  • Travelers and local communities: Designated airports would have local customs processing available, letting people and goods clear customs at nearby airports rather than traveling farther.
  • Airports and local governments: Primary airports that are within 30 miles of a land border, are formally tied to a land crossing or seaport, and meet U.S. Customs and Border Protection numerical criteria would become eligible for designation and for relief from the customs user fee.
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection and rulemakers: Eligibility depends on the numerical criteria in Treasury Decisions 82-37, 86-14, and 87-65 or any successor guidance, which the agency would use to assess qualifying airports.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Customs and fee relief for border airports

If enacted, the President would be required to designate certain primary airports as U.S. ports of entry when they meet specific rules. The airports must be within 30 miles of the northern or southern land border and be formally linked to a nearby land border crossing or seaport within 30 miles. The airports must also meet CBP's numeric port-of-entry criteria in Treasury Decision 82-37 (and successors). The designation would take effect when the President makes it. For airports the President designates, the bill would end the U.S. Customs user fee under section 236 of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984 (19 U.S.C. 58b). Travelers, airlines, customs brokers, and nearby businesses could get customs processing at the airport and may see reductions in airport-specific fees.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/20/2025

  • Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/20/2025

  • Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/20/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation