Speech

To the Montana Motor Carriers Association

Remarks of Governor Judy Martz
Butte
7/19/2002

***Check Against Delivery***

Good morning. And thank you all for being here today. I so appreciate the work of the Montana Motor Carriers Association to provide professional trucking services in our state.

I’d like to particularly thank your president, Walt Stieg (STEEG), and your executive vice-president, Spook Stang for your work and commitment to this organization and to Montana’s trucking industry. These individuals are well-respected, and are excellent representatives for the Montana Motor Carriers Association.

I would also like to introduce to you a member of my cabinet who needs no introduction in this group – Dave Galt, my director of the Department of Transportation. We stole Dave from your organization to serve in our cabinet, and let me tell you, the Motor Carriers trained him well. Dave, could you please stand and be recognized?

With him as well is Drew Livesay (LIV SAY), the administrator of the department’s Motor Carrier Services Division, who I understand has been a part of the new Montana Highway Watch Program. Drew, would you please stand?

I am here today to highlight a key role of the trucking industry. Looking at your schedule, I know you have been discussing safety and homeland security in depth for the past day and a half.

I want to start by thanking you for this focus in your organization. The trucking industry is taking the lead in recognizing that we all have a critical role to play in keeping our country safe.

Since September 11, we have had a renewed – and much-needed – focus on protecting our homeland. This is not only a function of soldiers in a foreign land protecting our freedom.

Terror has struck at the heart of America and we must respond by remaining vigilant and aware of our surroundings in our homes and in our communities.

No one understands this more on our roads than those in the trucking industry. America’s highways are where you report for work each and every day. After years in the business, you know every curve and corner of our highways, and you are well placed to recognize changes in our highway environment.

That is why I am so excited to join you this morning as you kick off Montana’s Highway Watch Program, and I am glad that the state of Montana is a partner in this worthwhile endeavor.

It is my understanding that the Montana Motor Carriers Association, under the guidance of Spook Stang, took the lead in establishing a committee prior to September 11 to look into the possibility of establishing a highway watch program in Montana.

The focus of the program at that time was to provide truck drivers with the expertise, tools, and recognition they need to make a positive difference in their communities and on America’s roadways; with the ultimate goal of improving safety on our nation’s highways.

While the focus continues to be on drunk drivers, speeders, hazards on the road, and other unsafe conditions; it is only fitting that you have added homeland security and reports of other suspicious activities to the list.

The trucking industry is incredibly diverse. In addition, you travel constantly throughout our nation – on our bridges and through our tunnels; delivering goods to our seaports, our airports, our restaurants and our malls. In this way, our nation is equipped with over three million drivers who are a potential ‘army’ of eyes and ears to monitor for security needs.

Through this effort, you are an example to other industries for how we each can play a part in protecting our state, our nation, and our citizens.

Thank you, not only for providing the lead in developing such a program in our state, but also for being ‘on the ground’ in service to our country.

As you are taking the lead in this program, I’d like to highlight for you some of the areas that your state government is focusing on in the area of homeland security as well.

Just last week, I received a briefing from our homeland security task force, and I am proud to report that Montana is a leader in coordinated, efficient, homeland security efforts.

On October 18, 2001, I established Montana’s Homeland Security Task Force. I know that Jim Greene, Administrator of Disaster and Emergency Services as well as Chairman of the Task Force, gave you an overview of the goals and activities of the Task Force yesterday morning.

I would like to take a moment to talk about our accomplishments.

Jim and other key agency representatives have shown tremendous leadership in coming together and coordinating preparedness to respond to acts of terror.

Earlier this week, President Bush unveiled the details of the proposed federal Department of Homeland Security. We are working with our congressional delegation to support the President’s initiative and ensure the most efficient communication between federal, state, local and tribal governments.

Communication and coordination between state and local government entities continues to improve by the work of the Task Force. We hope that with a single coordinating federal agency, our state will receive the information and leadership necessary to become better prepared to respond to and reduce terrorism threats.

A coordinated effort by the federal government will also ensure the most efficient use of tax dollars for grants that the state has begun to receive.

These grants that are so desperately needed -- particularly at the local level – for equipment, training, communications, and overall preparedness.

Working in conjunction with the Task Force is the SERC – the State Emergency Response Commission -- of which Spook Stang is a member. The SERC collects industry reports regarding hazardous materials, reviews plans developed by local emergency planning committees and supports grants for regional training and hazmat response capabilities, to name a few of its responsibilities.

I thank Spook for his participation on the SERC and the important role that it plays in ensuring the safety of our roadways.

I understand that legislation to regulate transport of high-grade nuclear waste and other hazardous materials across or within Montana is being considered for introduction during the upcoming regular legislative session.

Individual legislators are discussing establishing Montana as a ‘fee state’ whereby charges assessed to transporters of nuclear material would be collected and redistributed. Such monies could potentially provide equipment and training for the impacted public safety response agencies and to offset costs for providing law enforcement escorts for regulated cargo while it is on the move.

As legislation develops, I will look to the Task Force, the SERC, and to you for input to make sure that such fees are put back into preparedness and the overall security of our roads.

Again, thank you for your efforts to keep our roadways safe. I look forward to continued partnership with your industry as we each work to protect Montana’s citizens and our infrastructure.

Good morning, and God Bless.

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