Independent Senator Angus King is encouraging the Biden administration to loosen pandemic travel restrictions for Canadians coming into the United States.

President Joe Biden’s administration has relaxed restrictions for vaccinated international visitors who travel to the U.S. by plane. Senator King said Friday he sent a letter to the administration urging them to “extend this logic” for Canadians driving across the border.

King says the rules as they are now present a logistical challenge for Canadians, and will dissuade them from visiting Maine and its businesses at a time when the pandemic’s economic impact is still being felt.

“Canadians may fly to the U.S. under current regulations, but that is not usually practical for visits to Maine,” Senator King said. “Given the rural nature of our state, Canadians cannot simply fly from any Canadian city to Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle, or even Bangor for that matter. Instead, a visitor wishing to go from neighboring Fredericton, New Brunswick, for example, to Presque Isle, Maine (less than a two hour drive) must first take a 3 hour flight (costing about $500) to Boston, and then drive six hours north to Presque Isle.”