The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Senate section on pages S8536-S8537 on Aug. 1, 2001.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I am very pleased that the Senate has now finally passed the Senate Transportation appropriations bill. It has been a long and arduous process, but we have done the right thing today. We have done the right thing for our constituents who have been sitting in traffic, for our constituents who are concerned about safety at our airports, for our constituents who daily travel in this country, who use our waterways and our highways and our air transportation system.
We have moved this bill forward in a way that I think is very sound. We have tried to meet the needs, as I said, of all of the Senators, who I think have done a good job on this floor. But, most importantly, I am especially pleased that we have moved the Senate Transportation Appropriations bill out of the Senate without compromising one iota on the safety of our families on our highways in regard to the Mexican truck provision. I think that is absolutely the way to go. I commend my colleagues who stood with me on this issue as we have moved this bill through the Senate.
I also take this opportunity to thank my staff: Peter Rogoff, Kate Hallahan, Denise Matthews, Cyndi Stowe, Angela Lee, and Dale Learn; as well as Senator Shelby's staff: Wally Burnett, Paul Doerrer, and Candice Rogers; and our Commerce Committee staff: Debbie Hersman.
All of our staff members have spent countless hours in this Chamber, negotiating late into the night on many evenings over the past 10 days. I especially thank all of them for their tremendously good work and hard work and for being a part of getting this bill passed out today.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.
Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, 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. As we have insisted upon these requirements for Canadian and American drivers, we insist upon them for Mexican drivers. We welcome that day. What we have done today is a success.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's 2 minutes have expired.
Mr. TORRICELLI. I know in time Mexico will be able to comply with these requirements.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I extend my appreciation to the majority leader and to the Republican leader for negotiating this issue out so that we could move forward. I did not enjoy this exercise. As I mentioned before, I have never--and I have been in the Senate since 1987--engaged in parliamentary maneuvering in order to block consideration of a bill. And I would not have--and I hope I never have to again--if it were not for the fact that it is a solemn treaty. So I thank the majority leader for his assistance in working this out, as well as Senator Lott.
During the upcoming recess, we are going to meet with the Department of Transportation administration officials to find out exactly what language it is that they need in order to satisfy the concerns we all have about the present language in the bill, which they view and the Mexicans view as a violation of NAFTA. I hope we can come back, at the end of the recess, and we can agree on that language. Then we can move forward.
However, I remind my colleagues that there are three more--three more--cloture votes that may be required which will all involve, of course, extended debate. I do not want to do that. But, if necessary, we will continue through until finality because we really are concerned about language on an appropriations bill affecting a solemn treaty made between three nations.
So again, I thank the majority leader for working this out and giving us the courtesy he has extended. I apologize to him for impeding the important work of the Senate. I hope he understands why we had to do this. I am hopeful this will all be worked out over the recess so that we can come to an agreement on language which will achieve the goal we seek, which is to make sure that every vehicle that enters the United States is safe and inspected and every driver is licensed and qualified.
So I hope we can get this issue resolved. I hope the administration will be able to work with us and the other side and develop the necessary language. I hope we do not have to continue this parliamentary maneuvering, but we will, if necessary. I hope all understand that this is the importance of this issue.
Mr. President, I yield the remainder of my time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.
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