| Amendment Suspends
Pilot Program of Mexican
Cross Border Trucking |
| Senate Appropriations Committee
Approves Amendment by Senators Feinstein, Murray and Dorgan to Give U.S.
Trucks Equal Access to Mexican Highways |
| Department of
Transportation program would disadvantage U.S. truckers |
| From the RD
News Desk |
| Washington,
DC – The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved an
amendment offered by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would
prevent Mexican trucking companies from gaining unrestricted access to
U.S. highways until American truckers are afforded the same access in
Mexico. |
The amendment prohibits the use of
funds to allow Mexican trucks beyond the 20- to 25-mile commercial zone
on the U.S.-Mexico border until U.S. trucks are given comparable access
to Mexico. It was included as part of the Emergency Spending bill,
which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today.
“It is simply unfair to American
truckers to restrict their access to Mexico while Mexican drivers are
given unrestricted access to U.S. highways on a faster timetable,” Senator
Feinstein said. “This amendment will
prevent that from happening.”
The amendment was co-sponsored by Senators Feinstein, Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.)
and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).
The prohibition on increased access for Mexican trucks would be lifted
when American trucks are given equal access on a similar timetable to
Mexican highways.
At issue: A one-year pilot program, announced February 23 by the U.S.
Department of Transportation, to allow 100 Mexican trucking companies
unrestricted access to U.S. highways. American trucks would not be
granted full access to Mexican highways for approximately six months,
while the Mexican government gathers information and determines which
American companies will be granted access to Mexico.
“This is a serious flaw,” Senator
Feinstein said. “Today more than
75 percent of the commercial goods flowing between the United States,
Mexico and Canada are carried by trucks. It is a vitally important part
of our commercial trade – but any agreement to expand this
international trade is deeply flawed if one nation is favored over
another.”
“The amendment accepted today will
eliminate a glaring imbalance in cross-border trade.”
|
| Report Source: |
| http://feinstein.senate.gov/ |
