[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 126 (Thursday, July 16, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING JIM PHILLIPS FOR HIS LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO THE NORTH COUNTRY 
                             AND THE NATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ELISE M. STEFANIK

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 2020

  Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jim Phillips, 
President and CEO of the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance, for 
his lifetime of service to the North Country and the Nation.
  Jim Phillips, a longtime business leader with experience in cross 
border commerce, founded the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance 
(Can/Am BTA) in 1992. He recognized the need for a bi-national 
coalition of private and public stakeholders to advocate for the needs 
of the users of the U.S.-Canadian border including trade, 
transportation, border management and tourism. Jim Phillips has served 
as its President and CEO since its founding, creating an effective 
transcontinental and bi-national organization with engagement from 
twenty-seven states and all the provinces of Canada. The organization 
he built and leads involves a combined network of over 60,000 companies 
and organizations including producers, shippers, brokers, chambers of 
commerce, universities, bridge and tunnel operators, business and trade 
corridor organizations as well as economic development and government 
agencies.
  Under his many years of leadership at the Can/Am BTA, Jim Phillips 
became one of the most respected voices in all matters related to the 
U.S.-Canadian border in both countries, consistently earning the trust 
and partnership of Canadian and U.S. officials at all levels and over 
many administrations. Throughout the years, Jim Phillips has directly 
contributed to many border related advances including multiple 
infrastructure investments, the Shared Border Accord and enormous 
progress toward U.S.-Canadian customs and regulatory harmonization, 
among many others.
  In the 21st Congressional District, Jim Phillips was pivotal in 
working with the North Country Chamber of Commerce to develop the 
original concept of the Quebec-New York Corridor as a vehicle for bi-
national collaboration, and in helping to secure more than $107 million 
for the new U.S. border facilities at Champlain in 2005. Jim Phillips 
also played a leading role in the original organization of the Northern 
Border Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, an important bi-
partisan platform for northern border advocacy.
  Jim Phillips has made an indelible impact on the North Country and 
our relationship with Canada through his decades of experience and 
leadership. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I would like to 
thank Mr. Phillips for his lifetime of service to New York and the 
United States.

                          ____________________