A proposal by the Department of Homeland Security to charge a fee for people entering the U.S. through land ports of entry is a bad idea and could hurt the Montana economy, Sen. Jon Tester said last week.

“Montana has 12 ports-of-entry on our 545-mile border with Canada and those ports drive tourism and business throughout Montana,” Tester said in a May 29 press release. “Montana does almost $6 billion in trade with Canada each year. Adding a new fee to cross the border will discourage Canadians from coming to Montana to do business.”

Tester wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano informing her that a border fee threatens Montana “communities, trade, and commerce at a time when we should be doing all we can to grow our economy.” He also noted that a bipartisan provision recently passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee blocks any border fee study.