[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 107 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 107

   Expressing the sense of Congress that United States truck safety 
  standards not be compromised incident to the implementation of the 
                  North American Free Trade Agreement.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 27, 1993

    Mr. Brown of Ohio (for himself, Mr. DeFazio, Mrs. Bentley, Mr. 
    Lipinski, Mr. Valentine, Mr. Andrews of Maine, Mr. Pomeroy, Mr. 
    Hinchey, Mrs. Thurman, and Mr. Tucker) submitted the following 
 concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Public 
                        Works and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of Congress that United States truck safety 
  standards not be compromised incident to the implementation of the 
                  North American Free Trade Agreement.

Whereas the North American Free Trade Agreement requires the United States, 
        Mexico, and Canada to ``harmonize'' their trucking safety standards, but 
        fails to guard against lowering vital United States safety standards;
Whereas the North American Free Trade Agreement will permit Mexican trucking 
        companies and Mexican drivers to operate in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, 
        and California after 3 years and throughout the United States after 6 
        years;
Whereas the United States truck driver fatigue rules limit drivers to 10 hours 
        per day behind the wheel, Canada allows 13 hours without rest, and 
        Mexico has no limitations on truck driver time;
Whereas front brakes are required on United States trucks but are not required 
        on Mexican trucks, and the lack of front brakes reduces stopping ability 
        and increases its susceptibility to jackknifing;
Whereas the United States maximum gross vehicle weight limit is 80,000 pounds 
        without a special permit, compared to 137,000 pounds in Canada and 
        171,000 pounds in Mexico;
Whereas Mexico does not have a truck driver records system and the Canadian 
        system does not link with the United States system, thereby making it 
        impossible for enforcement officials in the United States to identify 
        suspended or revoked drivers, or drivers with disqualifying offenses 
        such as drunk, drugged, or reckless driving; and
Whereas only the United States requires industry-wide random testing for drugs 
        and alcohol: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the intent of Congress that the Secretary of Transportation, 
in the carrying out of harmonization negotiations under the auspices of 
the land transportation standards subcommittee established under 
article 913 (Annex 1) of the North American Free Trade Agreement, shall 
not weaken in any way United States truck safety standards by 
increasing truck sizes and weights or by compromising truck safety 
standards such as truck driver hours of service, front brake and other 
safety equipment requirements, and the truck driver record system.

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