1-1           By:  Truan                                      S.C.R. No. 24

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 12, 1997; February 17, 1997,

 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on International

 1-4     Relations, Trade, and Technology; March 6, 1997, reported

 1-5     adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following

 1-6     vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; March 6, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-7     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.C.R. No. 24                   By:  Truan

 1-8                        SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-9           WHEREAS, The United States and Mexico have always enjoyed a

1-10     brisk trade relationship, and the amount of trade between the two

1-11     countries is expected to reach unprecedented levels under the North

1-12     American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); and

1-13           WHEREAS, Of the total overland trade that currently flows

1-14     between the United States and Mexico, 80 percent of the commodities

1-15     are transported through Texas, primarily on trucks; and

1-16           WHEREAS, Mexican standards for trucks authorize higher

1-17     maximum load limits than those allowed under current Texas law; and

1-18           WHEREAS, Texas' existing highway and bridge infrastructure is

1-19     insufficient to handle heavier and longer trucks, and an increase

1-20     in the number of overweight trucks travelling in Texas would cause

1-21     a rapid escalation of damage to roads, rail crossings, and bridges,

1-22     creating an increased safety risk for all Texas motorists; and

1-23           WHEREAS, The federal government and the NAFTA Land

1-24     Transportation Subcommittee are considering whether to authorize an

1-25     increase in the weight and length of motor carriers in the United

1-26     States under the transportation harmonization provisions of NAFTA;

1-27     and

1-28           WHEREAS, Federal and state funding is insufficient to provide

1-29     for the construction and higher level of maintenance needed for

1-30     roadways to safely handle heavier and longer trucks; now,

1-31     therefore, be it

1-32           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-33     hereby direct the Texas Department of Transportation to monitor

1-34     national-level discussions addressing truck weight and length

1-35     standards adopted pursuant to NAFTA; and, be it further

1-36           RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Transportation should

1-37     support current Texas and U.S. standards for truck weights and

1-38     lengths before the NAFTA Land Transportation Subcommittee and

1-39     should support the position that Texas' current standards should be

1-40     honored and continued in order to protect the safety of our state's

1-41     citizens and the integrity of the public investment in highway and

1-42     bridge infrastructure; and, be it further

1-43           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

1-44     copy of this resolution to the executive director of the Texas

1-45     Department of Transportation.

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