CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE
Feb. 23, 2007 – 1:41 p.m.
Oberstar Raises Concerns About Mexican Trucks
House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James L. Oberstar has pledged to vigilantly scrutinize the safety implications of a Bush administration plan to allow Mexican trucks greater access to U.S. roadways.

“Several unanswered questions remain about whether the necessary systems are in place today to hold Mexican carriers to the same strict federal standards that govern U.S. commercial truck operations,” said the Minnesota Democrat.

Oberstar’s statement was prompted by the Transportation Department’s announcement today that it will move forward with a pilot program to allow up to 100 Mexican trucking companies meeting U.S. safety standards access to roads beyond the current limit of 20 miles across the border.

A day earlier, Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced that Mexican officials have agreed to allow U.S. inspectors to conduct safety audits in Mexico on companies interested in hauling cargo on U.S. roads.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (PL 103-182) set up a framework for the United States and Mexico to further open their roadways to each other’s trucks, but legal challenges and criteria set by Congress and regulators have stalled the implementation.

Source: CQ Today Midday Update
Political Clippings compiled from BNN Frontrunner and CQ Politics.com.
© 2007 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All Rights Reserved.