[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 36 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 36

   Expressing the sense of Congress that United States truck safety 
  standards are of paramount importance to the implementation of the 
                  North American Free Trade Agreement.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

               August 6 (legislative day, June 30), 1993

 Mr. Riegle (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Simon, and Ms. Moseley-
    Braun) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
                  referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of Congress that United States truck safety 
  standards are of paramount importance to the implementation of the 
                  North American Free Trade Agreement.

Whereas the North American Free Trade Agreement in requiring the United States, 
        Mexico, and Canada to ``harmonize'' their trucking safety standards 
        should ensure the continuing application of 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 a truck's 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 Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That it is the intent of the Congress that the Secretary of 
Transportation, in carrying out harmonization negotiations under the 
auspices of the Land Transportation Standards Subcommittee established 
under article 913 of the North American Free Trade Agreement, shall 
uphold all United States truck safety standards, including truck sizes 
and weights, and 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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