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Edwards Campaign: Statement on Senate vote to block funding for Bush’s open highways initiative
9/12/2007

CONTACT
Dan Leistikow
515-288-0766 (office)
dleistikow@johnedwards.com

Des Moines, Iowa – Senator John Edwards today released the following statement on the recent vote by the U.S. Senate to stop the implementation of a NAFTA program that allows Mexican trucks and drivers to operate beyond the commercial zones near the Mexican border. Last week, Edwards called on the Department of Transportation to block the program.

“The recent report of a fiery truck accident in Mexico that killed dozens of people just reinforces my concerns that the Bush administration’s current plan for putting Mexico’s long-haul diesel trucks on America’s highways endangers American lives as well as jobs. Since the Department of Transportation won’t stop this implementation of NAFTA, I am glad Congress is taking action to keep the American people safe.  The Senate took an important step to protect our citizens and our environment by joining the House’s effort to block funds for the ill-conceived Bush initiative.

“The Bush administration has allowed multinational corporations and their Washington lobbyists to jeopardize American highways and streets. They are putting profits over safety and pushing through this program without regard for the impact on the environment or the safety of America’s workers and families. As president, I will enact smart trade policies that put workers, wages and families first.”

Under the NAFTA-related open-highways initiative, 24 Mexican trucking companies are expected to have their trucks rolling on American roads within the month.  Congress passed a law in May requiring that the Bush administration certify that safety and other reporting systems have been implemented before the borders are opened under the new initiative.


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