Robert Torricelli: “as most Members of the Senate, I have listened to this debate patiently for many hours. I have heard many things said…”

“as most Members of the Senate, I have listened to this debate patiently for many hours. I have heard many things said that Senators need to consider before this debate comes to a close. Mostly I have heard that the United States somehow will be violating our treaty obligations with Mexico if we insist upon the safety of our citizens on our highways from Mexican trucks. I have heard that this Senate would be turning its back on the NAFTA treaty. I have heard it not a few times but 5 times or 10 times. For the consideration of my colleagues, I will answer it but once, because this Government does not violate a treaty obligation and the Senate does not violate the law or its obligations. Indeed, it has been said before, but in a recent arbitration panel decision looking at the NAFTA treaty and our obligations to our citizens and truck safety, it has been said: The United States may not be required to treat applications from Mexican trucking firms in exactly the same manner as applications from United States or Canadian firms . . . U.S. authorities are responsible for the safe operations of trucks within United States territory, whether ownership is United States, Canadian, or Mexican. It is not our intention nor will this law violate our treaty obligations. It simply says this: 50 years of efforts to protect Americans on our highways are not abandoned. The facts are clear.…”