Robert Torricelli: “I congratulate Senator Murray for her success on Transportation appropriations. This Senate, commencing a summer recess…”

“I congratulate Senator Murray for her success on Transportation appropriations. This Senate, commencing a summer recess, is required to deal with Mexican trucks and northeastern cows. We now have one success behind us, and one more to go. There are those who are going to claim that our insistence on the inspection of Mexican trucks is somehow a defeat for free trade. Nothing could be further from the truth. The commitment of this Senate to free, fair, and open trade is complete. We understand that the foundation of our prosperity rests upon open markets and free trade. But because we worship at the altar of free trade does not mean we have abandoned our faith in truck safety, the rights of labor, or environmental protection. We must keep a commitment to all of these things at the same time. The roads of the United States are open to Mexican trucks--as they are open to Canadian trucks--when Mexico can pass a regimen of truck weights, the licensing of drivers for hazardous cargo, that licenses are issued to 21-year-old drivers, and that the Mexican trucks can meet our safety requirements. Upon current inspections, nearly 40 percent of Mexican trucks are failing inspections. Our borders are not ready for 24-hour inspections to ensure safety. We want Mexico to have access to American highways. But for 50 years we have insisted that all trucks on our highways have limited weights, properly licensed drivers, and disclose hazardous cargoes.”