[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 304 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 304

Expressing the sense of Congress that allowing motor carriers domiciled 
 in Mexico to operate in the United States without adequate regulation 
jeopardizes the safety and security of United States citizens, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 27, 2008

  Mr. Barrow submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
     referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress that allowing motor carriers domiciled 
 in Mexico to operate in the United States without adequate regulation 
jeopardizes the safety and security of United States citizens, and for 
                            other purposes.

Whereas the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) took effect in January 
        1994;
Whereas NAFTA contains provisions requiring that motor carriers be allowed to 
        conduct operations freely between NAFTA participant countries and 
        recommending that inspection and licensing standards be the same for all 
        motor carriers and their drivers operating within the free trade zone;
Whereas because of serious safety and environmental problems with Mexico's 
        licensing procedures and truck fleet, which were uncovered by the 
        Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, the NAFTA motor 
        carrier provisions were not immediately implemented;
Whereas in January 2003, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals further delayed 
        implementation of the NAFTA motor carrier provisions pending compliance 
        with certain environmental requirements;
Whereas in June 2004, the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the 9th Circuit 
        and thereby allowed implementation of the NAFTA motor carrier provisions 
        to proceed;
Whereas in early 2007, the Department of Transportation announced the 
        establishment of a demonstration program to allow 100 motor carriers 
        domiciled in Mexico to operate in the United States beyond the 
        commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border;
Whereas on May 15, 2007, the House of Representatives, by a vote of 411-3, 
        passed the Safe American Roads Act of 2007, which seeks to limit the 
        authority of the Secretary of Transportation to initiate a cross-border 
        motor carrier demonstration program between the United States and 
        Mexico;
Whereas in September 2007, despite reservations expressed by the Inspector 
        General of the Department of Transportation concerning the inability of 
        the United States to access vehicle inspection statistics or drivers' 
        records, the Department of Transportation began implementation of its 
        cross-border motor carrier demonstration program between the United 
        States and Mexico; and
Whereas the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-161) prohibits 
        the funds made available under that Act from being used for any cross-
        border motor carrier demonstration program between the United States and 
        Mexico: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) allowing motor carriers domiciled in Mexico to operate 
        in the United States without adequate regulation jeopardizes 
        the safety and security of United States citizens; and
            (2) the demonstration program established by the Department 
        of Transportation to allow motor carriers domiciled in Mexico 
        to operate in the United States beyond commercial zones on the 
        United States-Mexico border must be terminated.
                                 <all>