[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2901]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            TRUCKERS PLAY A VITAL PART IN AMERICA'S COMMERCE

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, today hundreds of truckers 
mount a demonstration in the Nation's capital.
  America's truckers are a vital part of our economy. Truckers deliver 
the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the materials used to build 
our homes. Unfortunately, for the past several months, truckers have 
been hit by rising gas and diesel prices. These outrageous fuel prices 
are threatening the livelihood of thousands of truckers across the 
United States, which is the reason for their demonstration today.
  When truckers cannot afford to fill their tanks, they will be forced 
off the road. Without trucking, commerce in our Nation would be ground 
to a halt.
  With gas and diesel prices expected to continue rising through the 
summer, even a greater number of truckers are going to be threatened. 
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson has admitted that the Clinton-Gore 
administration was asleep at the wheel when it comes to gas and diesel 
prices.
  Now the American people must unfortunately foot the bill for the 
Clinton-Gore failure.




                          ____________________