[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 12, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H9880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         DEADLY 18-WHEELERS SHOULD BE REGULATED ON OUR HIGHWAYS

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to turn my 
attention to the discussion that was on the floor of the House today 
and a discussion that has been going on in the City of Houston very 
briefly and that is the number of 18-wheeler trucks going through my 
community on interstates, of which I recognize the importance of 18-
wheelers as transportation in the carry of goods. And I am not here to 
cast stones, but I am here to say, Mr. Speaker, we need more safety 
regulation and enforcement as it relates to 18-wheeler trafficking.
  I bring to our attention the tragic story that occurred this past 
summer, a couple of months ago, to the Lutine family, where this widow 
now tells a story of losing her husband and three babies because of an 
18-wheeler at high speed that turned over on them and caused the truck 
to explode; the vehicle that the family was riding in, the recreational 
vehicle that the family was riding in, and caused the husband and the 
children to be burned alive.
  If I can quote the comment from the wife, the wife and mother of the 
three, these victims, witnessed this sickening event and as she 
testified she stood at the scene screaming, ``My life is over. All my 
children are dead.''
  I am hoping that we can come together as Members of the United States 
Congress and ask that we include a data recorder in all trucks, Mr. 
Speaker, that would provide factual information to determine how these 
accidents occurred so that we can prevent these accidents. We will have 
an opportunity as we move toward H.R. 2669, as I conclude, the Motor 
Carrier Safety Act of 1999, this week and I hope we can work together 
to ensure that these tragedies do not happen again.

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