Mexican Trucks on American Roads

Floor Speech

SPEECH OF
HON. JOE BACA
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2007

* Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Tim Ryan and others for organizing a special order to discuss the dangers of allowing Mexican trucks on American roads.

* I rise today because I am concerned that allowing Mexican trucks open access to American roads will threaten American wages and the safety on our highways.

* There is no question that foreign competition from lower paid Mexican drivers will compromise the hard and dedicated fight by American workers.

* American workers deserve fair wages for their hard work and Mexican workers should not be exploited either.

* There are concerns about safety including whether Mexican trucks are safe and what allowing them on U.S. highways would do.

* There is no question that road safety and vehicle standards in Mexico are not the same as what we require in the United States of America.

* I believe that both the United States and Mexico should have a strong and healthy workforce but the U.S. worker should not be the compromise.

* Let us protect the American worker and not compromise the safety and well-being of our children and families.

Source