PRINTER'S NO. 1537
No. 203 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY SCARNATI, ORIE, WAUGH, ROBBINS, CORMAN, PUNT,
MADIGAN, RAFFERTY, PIPPY, EICHELBERGER, ERICKSON, EARLL,
FOLMER, D. WHITE, BAKER, REGOLA, RHOADES, BRUBAKER, KASUNIC,
LAVALLE, STOUT, KITCHEN, LOGAN AND BOSCOLA, NOVEMBER 5, 2007
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, NOVEMBER 5, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the President and the Congress of the United States to
2 suspend funding for the Cross-Border Trucking Demonstration
3 Project, implemented by the United States Department of
4 Transportation, which allows Mexican trucks free access to
5 our nation's roads.
6 WHEREAS, Under a provision of the 1994 North American Free
7 Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the United States was to open its
8 borders for Mexican trucks by the year 2000; and
9 WHEREAS, Due to numerous concerns with the program, the
10 United States refused to implement this provision until February
11 2007 when the United States Department of Transportation
12 announced that it would begin a pilot program allowing a certain
13 number of Mexican truck operators into the country beyond the
14 current restricted commercial zones in the United States; and
15 WHEREAS, This pilot program presents numerous economic,
16 environmental and safety issues for our nation and its citizens;
17 and
18 WHEREAS, Truck drivers in Pennsylvania and around the nation
1 would be asked to compete with Mexican truck companies who are
2 willing to have their employees work excessive hours for very
3 low wages; and
4 WHEREAS, There are also serious concerns with the impact that
5 these older Mexican trucks, which are not subject to the Clean
6 Air Act, will have on our environment; and
7 WHEREAS, In addition to the safety concerns which arise from
8 having under-trained drivers operating poorly maintained Mexican
9 trucks on our roads, the pilot program also presents major
10 border security issues for our nation; and
11 WHEREAS, The Senate and the House of Representatives of the
12 Congress of the United States have each passed amendments
13 cutting off funding for the pilot program; therefore be it
14 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
15 urge the President and the Congress of the United States to
16 suspend funding for the Cross-Border Trucking Demonstration
17 Project, implemented by the United States Department of
18 Transportation, which allows Mexican trucks free access to this
19 nation's roads; and be it further
20 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
21 the President of the United States and the Pennsylvania
22 Congressional delegation.
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