Whitfield Works to Give Mexican Trucks Red Light | News | Congressman Ed Whitfield

News | Congressman Ed Whitfield | United States Representative

Whitfield Works to Give Mexican Trucks Red Light September 10, 2008 WASHINGTON - Continuing his efforts to keep U.S. borders secure and protect American citizens, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) voted yesterday to prohibit the Department of Transportation (DOT) from allowing Mexican trucks into the United States.

"In order to keep our roads safe, cargo secure and borders controlled, it is absolutely essential that the U.S. government keep a watchful eye on the people and trucks coming across our borders," Whitfield said. "A program set into action that has been previously rejected by Congress - and the American people - falls far short of this and I am pleased to support this legislation so that we may consider policies which enhance trade without compromising border security or safety on our nations' roads."

Whitfield joined a bipartisan majority of his colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 6630, a bill to prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from granting authority to motor carriers from Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border unless authorized by Congress.

Last September, the DOT launched the Cross-Border Demonstration Program. This pilot program opened the southern border of the United States to several dozen Mexican trucks for deliveries and, in turn, some American trucks were also allowed to deliver directly into Mexico. Unfortunately it is difficult, if not impossible, to ensure that all Mexican trucks adhere to the same safety requirements as U.S. trucks, which raises concerns about the safety of having these vehicles on American roads. In addition, many critics of the program feared American trucking jobs would be lost to Mexican drivers and border security would be threatened.

With this concern in mind, Whitfield supported a provision in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Omnibus spending bill that sought to halt this program and set up additional standards that must be met by DOT for Mexican trucks to come into the country. However, the DOT continued to operate the Cross-Border Demonstration Program, acting against the will of Congress. Whitfield supported passage of H.R. 6630 yesterday to prohibit DOT from continuing to operate this program and to halt the entry of Mexican trucks beyond previously permitted commercial zones.

Despite opposition in both the House and Senate, the Bush Administration had announced plans to continue this program beyond its scheduled one year term for an additional two years. The legislation Whitfield supported and the House passed would thwart these plans and allow the will of Congress, and the American people, to be upheld.

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