Congressman Robin Hayes Supports Stricter Border Enforcement on Mexican Trucks
Hayes Votes to terminate a one-year Pilot Program which allows certain Motor Carriers based in Mexico to Operate throughout the United States
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Robin Hayes (NC-8) today supported H.R. 6630, which overwhelmingly passed through the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from granting authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border unless expressly authorized by Congress. Hayes is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 6630.
On September 6, 2007, in an effort to comply with the original NAFTA agreement, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) began a cross-border demonstration project to allow a limited number of Mexican trucks to operate in the U.S. and a limited number of U.S. trucks to operate in Mexico. Prior to this demonstration project, Mexican trucks were prohibited from operating beyond the 20-mile commercial zone around U.S.–Mexican border crossings.
The bill approved today, H.R. 6630, terminates the DOT demonstration project after one year (on September 6, 2008) and prohibits DOT from granting new authority for Mexican trucks to operate beyond the commercial zones on the border without express authorization by Congress.
'It is imperative that we keep our highways safe and that means securing our borders and implementing proper law enforcement on Mexican trucks that are entering into the United States,' said Hayes. 'I do not support the cross-border demonstration project that would allow some Mexican trucks to operate in the U.S., so I am pleased that H.R. 6630 will overturn this pilot program. U.S law enforcement personnel must have the ability to verify Mexican truckers on all levels including driving records, identification, and criminal history – in the same way law enforcement verifies this information for our U.S. operators. Homeland Security and the safety of our citizens on our roadways must be our top priority.'
'We know that trucking companies and truck drivers from Mexico simply do not have to deal with the same regulatory burdens that U.S. truckers must,' said Jim Johnston, President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. 'That not only raises safety and security concerns for the American public, but also puts U.S. truckers at a competitive disadvantage due to the costs associated with regulatory compliance.'
'Our members from the 8th District and throughout the country have appreciated Congressman Hayes' continued leadership on this and other matters in the transportation arena.'
Back in May of 2007 the House passed the Safe American Roads Act of 2007, which seeks to limit access of Mexican-domiciled trucks on U.S. highways unless they comply with the rigorous safety and security standards of which U.S. trucks and drivers are subjected and establishes a pilot program to ensure that safety and security standards are met with Mexican trucks and drivers once they are traveling beyond the commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border.
SUMMARY
This legislation requires the Secretary of Transportation to terminate a one-year pilot program which allows certain motor carriers based in Mexico to operate throughout the United States. The program was initiated on September 6, 2007. Additionally, Congressional approval would be required for any future authorities allowing such carriers to operate in the U.S.
H.R. 6630 also requires the Department of Transportation to submit three reports to Congress regarding the pilot program.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Robin Hayes (NC-8) today supported H.R. 6630, which overwhelmingly passed through the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from granting authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border unless expressly authorized by Congress. Hayes is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 6630.
On September 6, 2007, in an effort to comply with the original NAFTA agreement, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) began a cross-border demonstration project to allow a limited number of Mexican trucks to operate in the U.S. and a limited number of U.S. trucks to operate in Mexico. Prior to this demonstration project, Mexican trucks were prohibited from operating beyond the 20-mile commercial zone around U.S.–Mexican border crossings.
The bill approved today, H.R. 6630, terminates the DOT demonstration project after one year (on September 6, 2008) and prohibits DOT from granting new authority for Mexican trucks to operate beyond the commercial zones on the border without express authorization by Congress.
'It is imperative that we keep our highways safe and that means securing our borders and implementing proper law enforcement on Mexican trucks that are entering into the United States,' said Hayes. 'I do not support the cross-border demonstration project that would allow some Mexican trucks to operate in the U.S., so I am pleased that H.R. 6630 will overturn this pilot program. U.S law enforcement personnel must have the ability to verify Mexican truckers on all levels including driving records, identification, and criminal history – in the same way law enforcement verifies this information for our U.S. operators. Homeland Security and the safety of our citizens on our roadways must be our top priority.'
'We know that trucking companies and truck drivers from Mexico simply do not have to deal with the same regulatory burdens that U.S. truckers must,' said Jim Johnston, President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. 'That not only raises safety and security concerns for the American public, but also puts U.S. truckers at a competitive disadvantage due to the costs associated with regulatory compliance.'
'Our members from the 8th District and throughout the country have appreciated Congressman Hayes' continued leadership on this and other matters in the transportation arena.'
Back in May of 2007 the House passed the Safe American Roads Act of 2007, which seeks to limit access of Mexican-domiciled trucks on U.S. highways unless they comply with the rigorous safety and security standards of which U.S. trucks and drivers are subjected and establishes a pilot program to ensure that safety and security standards are met with Mexican trucks and drivers once they are traveling beyond the commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border.
SUMMARY
This legislation requires the Secretary of Transportation to terminate a one-year pilot program which allows certain motor carriers based in Mexico to operate throughout the United States. The program was initiated on September 6, 2007. Additionally, Congressional approval would be required for any future authorities allowing such carriers to operate in the U.S.
H.R. 6630 also requires the Department of Transportation to submit three reports to Congress regarding the pilot program.
posted by Chuck Demastus at
7:58 AM
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