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. 1-46 * * * * *