Safe American Roads Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1773
Sponsor: Rep. Boyda, Nancy E. [D-KS-2]
Introduced: 2007-03-29 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Boundaries
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Driver licenses
Federal advisory bodies
Fines (Penalties)
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Inspectors general
Latin America
Law
Legislation
Mexico
Motor vehicle safety
Reciprocity
Traffic accidents and safety
Truck drivers
Trucking
Trucks

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: 
Safe American Roads Act of 2007 - Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from granting authority to a Mexico-domiciled motor carrier to operate beyond U.S. municipalities and commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border, except under a pilot program that complies with provisions: (1) directing Mexico-domiciled motor carrier compliance with certain federal motor carrier safety and inspection requirements under the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002; (2) authorizing the Secretary to conduct pilot programs to evaluate alternatives to regulations relating to, or innovative approaches to, motor carrier, commercial motor vehicle, and driver safety; and (3) prohibiting Mexico-domiciled motor carriers from operating beyond U.S. municipalities and commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border until U.S.-domiciled motor carriers are allowed similarly to operate in Mexico.
 
Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation to monitor and review, and submit an interim and final report to Congress regarding, the pilot program. Requires the Secretary, not later than 60 days after the termination of the pilot program, to report to Congress on the results of such program.

action_date: 2007-05-14
text: 
Safe American Roads Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from granting a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico authority to operate beyond U.S. municipalities and commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border, except that the Secretary may carry out, in accordance with certain federal motor carrier safety and inspection laws and regulations and this Act, a pilot program that allows not more than 100 of such carriers, and not more than 1,000 of their vehicles, to operate beyond such municipalities and zones.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from implementing the pilot program until: (1) the Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) submits to Congress and the Secretary a report verifying that DOT is in compliance with provisions of the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 requiring compliance by motor carriers domiciled in Mexico with certain federal motor carrier safety and inspection laws and regulations and that DOT has established sufficient mechanisms to ensure compliance with such laws and regulations by Mexico-domiciled motor carriers who will operate beyond U.S. municipalities and commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border; (2) the Secretary takes necessary action to address any issues raised by the IG's report and submits to Congress a report on such actions; (3) there is a program in effect for U.S.-domiciled motor carriers to operate in Mexico beyond commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border; and (4) the Secretary publishes in the Federal Register, and provides opportunity for public comment on, certain aspects of the pilot program.
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish an independent review panel to monitor and evaluate the pilot program; and (2) address any determination by the panel that the pilot program has had an adverse effect on motor carrier safety or terminate such program.
 
(Sec. 5) Requires the IG: (1) to monitor and review the pilot program; and (2) not later than 12 months, and not later than 18 months, after the initiation of the pilot program submit to Congress and the Secretary interim reports that include IG findings and certain safety determinations concerning such program.
 
Requires the Secretary, not later than 60 days after submission of the IG's 18-month interim report, to report to Congress on: (1) any actions the Secretary is taking to address motor carrier safety issues raised in the IG's interim reports; (2) the Secretary's evaluation of whether granting authority to additional motor carriers domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond U.S. municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border would have any adverse effects on motor carrier safety; (3) modifications to federal motor carrier safety laws and regulations or special procedures necessary to enhance the safety of operations of motor carriers domiciled in Mexico in the United States; and (4) any recommendations for legislation to make the pilot program permanent or to expand operations of motor carriers domiciled in Mexico in the United States beyond municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes the pilot program for three years, except that if the Secretary does not comply with the requirements of this Act, such program terminates. Requires the Secretary, not later than 60 days after the termination of the pilot program, to submit to Congress a final report on such program.

action_date: 2007-05-15
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 14, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.) 

 
Safe American Roads Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from granting a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico authority to operate beyond U.S. municipalities and commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border, except that the Secretary may carry out, in accordance with certain federal motor carrier safety and inspection laws and regulations and this Act, a pilot program that allows not more than 100 of such carriers, and not more than 1,000 of their vehicles, to operate beyond such municipalities and zones.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from implementing the pilot program until: (1) the Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) submits to Congress and the Secretary a report verifying that DOT is in compliance with provisions of the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 requiring compliance by motor carriers domiciled in Mexico with certain federal motor carrier safety and inspection laws and regulations and that DOT has established sufficient mechanisms to ensure compliance with such laws and regulations by Mexico-domiciled motor carriers who will operate beyond U.S. municipalities and commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border; (2) the Secretary takes necessary action to address any issues raised by the IG's report and submits to Congress a report on such actions; (3) there is a program in effect for U.S.-domiciled motor carriers to operate in Mexico beyond commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border; and (4) the Secretary publishes in the Federal Register, and provides opportunity for public comment on, certain aspects of the pilot program.
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish an independent review panel to monitor and evaluate the pilot program; and (2) address any determination by the panel that the pilot program has had an adverse effect on motor carrier safety or terminate such program.
 
(Sec. 5) Requires the IG: (1) to monitor and review the pilot program; and (2) not later than 12 months, and not later than 18 months, after the initiation of the pilot program submit to Congress and the Secretary interim reports that include IG findings and certain safety determinations concerning such program.
 
Requires the Secretary, not later than 60 days after submission of the IG's 18-month interim report, to report to Congress on: (1) any actions the Secretary is taking to address motor carrier safety issues raised in the IG's interim reports; (2) the Secretary's evaluation of whether granting authority to additional motor carriers domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond U.S. municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border would have any adverse effects on motor carrier safety; (3) modifications to federal motor carrier safety laws and regulations or special procedures necessary to enhance the safety of operations of motor carriers domiciled in Mexico in the United States; and (4) any recommendations for legislation to make the pilot program permanent or to expand operations of motor carriers domiciled in Mexico in the United States beyond municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes the pilot program for three years, except that if the Secretary does not comply with the requirements of this Act, such program terminates. Requires the Secretary, not later than 60 days after the termination of the pilot program, to submit to Congress a final report on such program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-16
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 411 - 3 (Roll no. 349). (text: CR H4995-4996)
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 411 - 3 (Roll no. 349).(text: CR H4995-4996)
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5016-5017)
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1773.
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4995-5001)
action_date: 2007-05-15
text: Mr. DeFazio moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-05-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 87.
action_date: 2007-05-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 110-147.
action_date: 2007-05-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 110-147.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Discharged.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-03-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Introduced in House