WASHINGTON – The House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to delay a Bush administration plan to allow Mexican trucks full access to U.S. highways.
The trucks would have to be declared safe with inspection requirements met, the lawmakers said, and Mexico would have to give U.S. truckers the same access south of the border.
“We do not need 90,000-pound unguided missiles on our highways,” said Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C.
The House voted 411-3 to approve a three-year pilot program that would restrict opening the border to 100 carriers based in Mexico. They would be allowed to use a maximum of 1,000 vehicles.
The Bush administration wanted to start a pilot program this year.
The Department of Transportation says it could be as late as 2008 before Congress’s criteria are met.
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