White House Continues Controversial Program Allowing More Mexican Trucks Into U.S.

Washington, D.C. (AHN) -- The White House is continuing with its controversial experimental program allowing more Mexican trucks entry into the U.S. despite language in the $555 billion spending bill signed into law by President Bush just before the New Year reinforcing Congress' early opposition to the program.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration began a program in September 6 following a 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. It gives a maximum of 500 trucks from 100 Mexican companies full access to U.S. highways. Canada has had full access to American roads but Mexico has only been allowed to go 20 miles into U.S. soil from specific border crossings.

The amendment in the appropriations bill introduced by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), states in strong terms that ""None of the funds made available under this Act may be used to establish a cross-border motor carrier demonstration program to allow Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate."

The Bush administration has said the one-year pilot program is safe, but Democratic and Republican lawmakers, labor groups, environmental advocates and truck owners have argued that there are security risks for motorists because officials cannot ensure that Mexican trucks are as safe as American trucks.

"The current cross-border trucking demonstration project - established in September - will continue to operate in a manner that puts safety first," Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration spokeswoman Melissa Mazzella DeLaney said in a statement.