While not stopping the project, Senators Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Dianne Feinstein of California and Patty Murray of Washington, all Democrats, sponsored an amendment that would require the Bush administration to publish details about this pilot plan and to allow time for public comment on it. The committee further expressed the requirement that before Mexican trucks are allowed into the United States they must meet safety and security standards. The amendment was part of a supplemental spending bill for action in Afghanistan and Iraq. There's already a threat of a Presidential veto for the bill.
Jim Hoffa, Teamster general president, noted that, “The Teamsters Union has successfully led the battle to keep our border closed for the past 12 years, and we will not let up in our fight as this measure moves through Congress. I want to thank our allies on Capitol Hill for standing strong for highway safety.”
Under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that took effect on January 1, 1994, access to all U.S. Highways was promised for both Mexican and Canadian trucking companies. Canadian trucks and drivers have been moving back and forth across the Northern border for a number of years. As with the proposed movement of Mexican trucks, Canadian truckers can only drop shipments, then pick up loads to move back to Canada.
The U.S. Department of Transportation says it will move to answer all Congressional concerns.
