Statement of Jackie Gillan, Vice President
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

on Today's Overwhelming House Vote in Favor of Rep. Olver's Amendment Preventing Unsafe Foreign Trucks from Driving on U.S. Highways

Washington, D.C. -- Today's overwhelming bi-partisan vote (339 to 70) in support of Rep. John Olver's (D-MA) amendment to H.R.5025, the fiscal year 2005 appropriations bill for the Departments of Transportation and Treasury is a significant victory for highway safety. The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed exempting some foreign trucks and buses from meeting U.S. safety standards in violation of the law. The vote by the House was a resounding rebuke of any government action to ignore or circumvent current safety laws.

To ensure traffic safety, Congress in the 1966 National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act required that all vehicles, including cars, trucks and buses, sold or used in the U.S. must meet U.S. safety standards applicable when the vehicle was built. Trucks and buses built in other countries that are imported or driven into the U.S. are subject to the same law and requirements.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposes giving some foreign trucks and buses a two-year grace period from meeting this federal law, while at the same time requiring all U.S. built trucks and buses to comply.

Advocates congratulates Rep. Olver (D-MA) for his leadership on the House floor and every Member of Congress who voted to ensure that all trucks and buses, domestic or foreign, meet the same safety requirements. We cannot take a two-year "holiday" from safety.

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Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), an alliance of consumer, health and safety groups and insurance companies and agents working together to make America's roads safer, is actively involved at the federal and state levels to reduce the terrible tragedy of crashes to families across the nation.