House votes to keep Mexican trucks in restricted area

Human Events, Jul 16, 2001

On June 26 the House, by a vote of 285 to 143, approved an amendment to the 2002 Transportation Appropriations Act that would keep Mexican trucks from travelling in the United States outside of the already existing commercial zones within 20 miles of the border.

Acting to carry out provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), President Bush has asked Congress to lift the current restrictions by January 2002.

Rep. Martin Olav Sabo (D.-Minn.) proposed the amendment, which passed easily. Sabo described his amendment as "clear [and] straight to the point. It says that we are not going to permit these carriers to operate beyond the existing 20-mile commercial zone."

Rep. Frank Wolf (R.-Va.) spoke in favor of the amendment. "Mexico has no [limits on drivers] hours of service. None," said Wolf. "Mexico has no drug testing. None. Mexico has no alcohol testing. None. Mexico has no commercial driver's license. None. Mexico has no truck Inspection. None. Mexico uses leaded gasoline and not unleaded gasoline."

Wolf continued by chiding the Bush Administration's request. "Frankly, the administration has not thought this thing through, and we do not even have an Office of Motor Carrier Administration yet on the job."

Harold Rogers (R.-Ky.) opposed the amendment. Although he is an opponent of NAFTA, which was designed to open up unrestricted trade among the U.S., Mexico and Canada, Rogers nonetheless respects that treaty. He said of the amendment that "this is a clear violation of Mexico's rights under NAFTA; It would subject the United States to possible trade sanctions estimated to be valued at over $1 billion annually."

As for the safety issues raised by Wolf and other supporters of the amendment, Rogers insisted that the administration was handling these and that it was not necessary for Congress to get involved yet. "The administration has a plan. The [Department of Transportation] will be going to Mexico. For those carriers in Mexico who want to run trucks Into this country, those carriers will be audited for safety, for their record, for training, for all the things that go into whether or not a safe operation of the truck could be made in the United States by that Mexican carrier," Rogers said.

In a parting shot at the amendment, Rogers said to supporters, "You are in violation of a treaty; in violation of the law; in violation of the majority that passed the treaty through this body." Rep. David Obey (D.-Wis.) responded to Rogers, claiming that "NAFTA is a trade agreement; it is not a suicide pact. We are not required to allow unsafe trucks on American highways In order to satisfy some pencil-happy bureaucrat dealing with NAFTA."

A "yes" vote was a vote to keep Mexican trucks off of U.S. highways because of their lack of safety regulations. A "no" vote was a vote in support of the President's policy of lifting the current restrictions.