Welcome to Call to Decision
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 3:26 AM
Subject: Mexican trucks roll on despite opposition
MEXICAN TRUCKS ROLL ON DESPITE OPPOSITION
Tell Congress to Halt the Mexican Truck Program
Alert: The Bush administration continues to push forward with its
controversial project allowing Mexican trucks to move freely on
U.S. roads
despite strong protests from both chambers of Congress, where
legislation is pending.
"Congress has stated clearly that it believes going forward
with such a
program, without the information needed to assure safety on
American roads,
is not safe," said Barry Piatt, spokesman for Sen. Byron
Dorgan, D-N.D.
Dorgan successfully amended the Senate Transportation
Appropriations Bill to
include language to stop the Mexican Truck Demonstration Program,
hoping the
Bush administration would respond.
However, even though the House and Senate agreed to retain the
language, the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, is
continuing with
the program.
According to the conference report on the House bill, HR 3074,
issued Nov.
13, "None of the funds made available under this Act may be
used to
establish a cross-border motor carrier demonstration program to
allow
Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate beyond the commercial
zones along
the international border between the United States and
Mexico."
The bill, however, awaits approval by both the full House and the
full
Senate.
Jenny Tallheimer, spokeswoman for the Senate Appropriations
Committee, said,
"At this point the transportation appropriations bill is
being lumped with
the other appropriations bill into a larger omnibus bill.
"Both the House and the Senate are currently negotiating the
details of the
larger appropriations bill, and once that is complete the
legislation will
be introduced in the House and the Senate," she said.
"No time table has
been set at this point however."
There also is no guarantee that the language in the conference
report
designed to defund the Mexican Truck program will remain in a new
omnibus
bill.
Without an appropriation bill containing such language, the
program can
continue.
FMCSA's website lists 10 Mexican carriers with a total of 55
trucks that are
approved to transport goods throughout the U.S.
The FMCSA was asked to comment but did not reply to phone calls or
e-mails.
About 40 more Mexican carriers will soon join the 10 already
approved. The
agency, according to its website, said it "has notified an
additional 37
Mexico-domiciled motor carriers that they have successfully passed
a
Pre-Authorization Safety Audit."
The FMCSA says there are four U.S. carriers participating in the
cross-border program.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., continues to show frustration with
the Bush
administration.
His spokesman, Joe Kasper, said, "Rather than working with
Congress to
ensure the program is implemented in a manner that is safe and
efficient,
the department has instead decided to continue its plan of opening
our
roadways to an increasing number of Mexican trucking
companies."
Kasper called it "a dangerous program that threatens our
security and the
safety of vehicle motorists."
"It now appears the only way Congress can make the department
listen is by
ensuring it does not have the funds to move the program forward as
currently
planned," he said. (Source WND.com)
DO NOT BE SILENCED BY ANYONE STAND UP! MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
TAKE ACTION: Send YOUR blast FAX to ALL 535 Congressman NOW!
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NOTE: Be sure to send this Alert to EVERYONE you know who supports
saving
America and Protecting our Middle Class. Thank you!
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