IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 304 

Expressing the sense of Congress that allowing motor carriers domiciled 

in Mexico to operate in the United States without adequate regulation 

jeopardizes the safety and security of United States citizens, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 27, 2008 

Mr. BARROW submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress that allowing motor carriers domiciled in Mexico to operate in the United States 

without adequate regulation jeopardizes the safety and 

security of United States citizens, and for other purposes. 

Whereas the North American Free Trade Agreement 

(NAFTA) took effect in January 1994; 

Whereas NAFTA contains provisions requiring that motor 

carriers be allowed to conduct operations freely between 

NAFTA participant countries and recommending that inspection and licensing standards be the same for all 

motor carriers and their drivers operating within the free 

trade zone; 


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•HCON 304 IH 

Whereas because of serious safety and environmental problems with Mexico’s licensing procedures and truck fleet, 

which were uncovered by the Inspector General of the 

Department of Transportation, the NAFTA motor carrier provisions were not immediately implemented; 

Whereas in January 2003, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals 

further delayed implementation of the NAFTA motor 

carrier provisions pending compliance with certain environmental requirements; 

Whereas in June 2004, the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the 9th Circuit and thereby allowed implementation of the NAFTA motor carrier provisions to proceed; 

Whereas in early 2007, the Department of Transportation 

announced the establishment of a demonstration program 

to allow 100 motor carriers domiciled in Mexico to operate in the United States beyond the commercial zones on 

the United States-Mexico border; 

Whereas on May 15, 2007, the House of Representatives, by 

a vote of 411–3, passed the Safe American Roads Act of 

2007, which seeks to limit the authority of the Secretary 

of Transportation to initiate a cross-border motor carrier 

demonstration program between the United States and 

Mexico; 

Whereas in September 2007, despite reservations expressed 

by the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation concerning the inability of the United States to access vehicle inspection statistics or drivers’ records, the 

Department of Transportation began implementation of 

its cross-border motor carrier demonstration program between the United States and Mexico; and 


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•HCON 304 IH 

Whereas the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public 

Law 110–161) prohibits the funds made available under 

that Act from being used for any cross-border motor carrier demonstration program between the United States 

and Mexico: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that— 

3 (1) allowing motor carriers domiciled in Mexico 

4 to operate in the United States without adequate 

5 regulation jeopardizes the safety and security of 

6 United States citizens; and 

7 (2) the demonstration program established by 

8 the Department of Transportation to allow motor 

9 carriers domiciled in Mexico to operate in the United 

10 States beyond commercial zones on the United 

11 States-Mexico border must be terminated. 

Æ 


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