House Passes Capito Co-Sponsored Measure to Protect American Roads

Press Release

In an evening vote yesterday Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) joined a majority of the House of Representatives in voting to pass HR 6630, legislation that would end a controversial pilot program that currently grants Mexican motor carriers substantial access to operate within the United States under a pilot program operated by the US Department of Transportation.

"This is an issue of safety on our roads and protection for our nation's truckers," said Capito, who is a co-sponsor of the measure. "We have an obligation to ensure that any trucks and their drivers who operate within our borders are safe."

"From unreliable truck maintenance, to the risk of contaminated imported vegetables, to the need to protect our small businesses and the truck drivers they employ - this bill is warranted and overdue. I appreciate the strong bipartisan support this bill has received throughout the committee process and in today's vote."

The bill also prohibits the federal government from granting Mexican trucks access beyond the commercial zones along the southwest border without the consent of Congress.

Capito is a co-sponsor of HR 6630 and a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, from which this legislation originated.

Since 2007, the US Department of Transportation has operated the pilot cross-border program which allows 100 Mexican trucking companies access to the United States beyond a designated zone of border cities and municipalities. Legislation passed today would end this program.

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