As Vice Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) helped lead the House of Representatives late Tuesday in voting to immediately end a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) pilot program that allows Mexican trucks to operate beyond commercial zones at the U.S. - Mexico border.

“The safety of our roadways must come first,” said Rahall.  “We cannot have Mexican trucks disobeying our traffic and cargo standards and endangering the safety of American drivers.  I am proud to have cosponsored this bill, which helps protect the lives of the many West Virginians on the roads each day.”

On September 6, 2007, despite Congressional objections and safety concerns, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) began a cross-border pilot program in compliance with NAFTA, allowing Mexican trucking companies to operate in the U.S.  Prior to this program, Mexican trucks were prohibited from operating beyond the 20-mile commercial zone around U.S. - Mexican border crossings.

Several unanswered questions remain as to whether the necessary systems are in place today to hold Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to the same strict federal standards that govern U.S. commercial truck operations, including hours of service, drug testing, and criminal background checks for drivers hauling hazardous materials.

H.R. 6630, cosponsored by Rahall, would immediately terminate the NAFTA pilot program and prohibit the DOT from granting new authority for Mexican trucks to operate beyond the commercial zones on the border without express authorization by Congress.

"This is just one example of why I voted against NAFTA more than a decade ago," Rahall said. "Its programs not only put American jobs and the American economy at risk, but also pose serious dangers to the safety of American citizens.”