Senate Expected to Vote on Unsafe Mexican Truck Program

Vote Follows Mexican Truck Explosion That Killed 34 People, Injured 150

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General
President Jim Hoffa today urged the Senate to act swiftly and decisively to
block funding for the Bush administration's illegal Mexican truck program
that is endangering the lives of American drivers.
Hoffa said the program threatens highway safety and national security.
The danger posed by trucks from Mexico was made clear by the truck
explosion late yesterday that killed at least 34 people and injured 150 in
Northern Mexico.
A vote to block funding for the pilot program is expected to take place
in the Senate on Monday afternoon of Sept. 10 or Tuesday, Sept. 11.
"Tomorrow will be the sixth anniversary of the worst terrorist attack
on U.S. soil," Hoffa said. "I don't see how any patriotic American could
vote to allow these dangerous trucks to cross our borders and travel freely
throughout our country."
"We don't know who's driving these trucks and we don't know what
they're carrying," Hoffa said. "Weapons that could be used in a terrorist
attack might be in the backs of these trucks."
According to news reports, the first Mexican truck allowed beyond the
safety zone crossed the border at Laredo at 12:51 a.m. Saturday. The truck
traveled through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and South Carolina to
North Carolina, where it was to deliver a load of steel.
"Haven't the people of North Carolina suffered enough from the effects
of free trade agreements?" Hoffa said. "To be the first state to receive a
delivery directly from Mexico just adds a whole lot of insult to a whole
lot of injury."
The Transportation Department's inspector general reported last week
that five states said they aren't ready to enforce safety rules for the
pilot project. Those five states are Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Rhode
Island and Utah, while Maryland did not respond.
The inspector general also reported that seven states don't have
procedures in place for enforcing restrictions on point-to-point deliveries
within the United States, a practice known as cabotage. Those are the
District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Mexico, Utah and
Washington.
The Senate is expected to vote on an amendment to the 2008
Transportation Appropriations bill offered by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. The
amendment will mirror language passed by the House that blocks funding for
the program.
Note: Legal documents filed in the case and other documents related to
this issue can be found at http://www.teamster.org.