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Mar 28, 2007- Kaptur Co-Sponsors Legislation To Limit Mexican Trucks in U.S.

March 28, 2007

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Trucking Safety Act wouldprohibit trucks based in Mexicofrom entering the U.S. fromentering the United Statesbeyond commercial zones until the U.S. Department of Transportation promulgatesrules for compliance by Mexican drivers and carriers with federal safetyregulations.

"This legislation addresses an important safety issue," said CongresswomanKaptur. "The American public deserves to know that trucks from Mexico do not pose an undue safety risk, yet thegovernment of Mexico, unlikethe United States,has virtually no enforceable safety requirements for tractor-trailers and avery limited inspection regime."

Congresswoman Kaptur also said law enforcement personnel in the United Statesshould have the ability to access driver, criminal and security data bases toverify drivers' IDs, driving records, criminal records and risk to security. Bycontrast, the Bush Administration, in seeking to open U.S. roadways to Mexican trucks, proposes toaccept "proof" by Mexican trucking companies that their drug and alcoholtesting procedure comply with U.S.requirements.

"There are considerable safety and security risks involved with providingMexican truckers complete and unrestricted access to American roadways," saidCongressman Hunter. "It is important that these issues are thoroughly addressedbefore Mexican motor carriers are permitted to freely operate beyondestablished commercial zones along the Southern land border.

Congresswoman Kaptur said the NAFTA Trucking Safety Act would ensure thatthe same rules and regulations that currently apply to U.S. driverswould also apply to Mexican drivers.

Under NAFTA (P.L. 103-182), American roadways and communities were scheduledto be opened to cross-border trucking competition on January 1, 2000. Largelydue to Congressional opposition, however, the Clinton Administration did notgrant Mexican motor carriers unrestricted access to U.S. roadways and subsequentlyestablished commercial zones just along the international border forcross-border trucking activities. While legislation was later enacted in 2001(P.L. 107-87) requiring several safety conditions be satisfied before openingthe border to Mexican trucks, the Department of Transportation has sinceannounced that compliance standards have been met and implementation ispresently underway.

The Kaptur-Hunter legislation has has been referred to the HouseTransportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Committee on HomelandSecurity.