Rep. DeFazio Urges Repeal of Mexican Trucks Program

(Transport Topics)

Letter co-signed by 78 members of Congress cites safety issues, addresses retaliatory tariffs

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) sent a bipartisan letter signed by 78 Members of Congress Wednesday to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, asking that they consider repealing the program that opens U.S. roadways to Mexican trucks. The program, suspended since early last year under the Obama administration, was begun under the Bush administration under the provisions of the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement.

But Mexico “has no meaningful system for commercial driver’s licenses, drug testing or hours of service. . . . [NAFTA] is a trade agreement that threatens the safety of the American public,” DeFazio wrote.

DeFazio chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s highways and transit subcommittee. The letter was also signed by Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), who chairs the full committee. Read more here.