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Week Ending May 18, 2006

H.R.1773 To limit the authority of the Secretary of Transportation to grant authority to motor carriers domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border.

Authority is granted to grant Mexican motor carriers the authority to operate beyond the municipalities and commercial zones along the US / Mexico border under a one year pilot program that is modified by this bill. The program will ensure inspection of the vehicles, proper and necessary driver documents and authority to enforce against violators.

Under Public Law 107-87 of 2002  commercial vehicles operated by a Mexican motor carrier entering the US may do so only at commercial border crossings where and when a certified motor carrier safety inspector is on duty and where adequate capacity exists to conduct a meaningful safety inspection and to accommodate vehicles that are placed out of service by the inspection.

After the initial inspection any Mexican motor carrier commercial vehicle seeking authority to operate beyond the US border municipalities and commercial zones it must display a valid commercial vehicle Safety Alliance Inspection decal. Federal and State inspectors must verify electronically the status and validity of the license for each driver of such vehicles crossing the border.

The bill goes further to require that no Mexican-based motor carrier can operate beyond the US border municipalities and commercial zones until US-based carriers have been allowed to begin comparable operations in Mexico.

The Secretary of Transportation will conduct a pilot study resulting in a publicly available detailed description of the program with beginning and end dates, and the process by which the Secretary would revoke Mexican carriers operating authority at the end of the pilot program and Specify measures to protect health and safety of the public to include enforcement measures and penalties for non-compliance. The Secretary will also provide the metrics used to evaluate the program and compare any change in the level of highway and motor carrier safety resulting from the pilot program.

Two thirds through the year the Secretary will report to Congress on the Inspector General’s finding on the project  followed by a final report in another 90 days. The reports will include the determination of whether the Mexican carriers are in compliance with Public Law 107-87. A further safety evaluation is due 60 days after the program is ended.

Sponsor:  Rep. Nancy E. Boyda (D-KS-2^nd)

Vote: Passed House 411 to 3 May 15, 2007 RC 349

Cost to the taxpayers:

Earmark Certification:   Not applicable to this bill.

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