The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved Dalilah’s Law on Mar. 18, legislation led by Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer to strengthen Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) requirements in the United States. The bill aims to ensure commercial motor vehicle drivers are properly trained, meet safety standards, can read and understand English, and prevent unqualified or illegal immigrants from obtaining a CDL through lax state enforcement.
Dalilah’s Law is named after Dalilah Coleman, who was struck and severely injured at age five by an illegal immigrant driving a semi-truck. She was a guest of President Trump at this year’s State of the Union address, where the President called for Congress to pass legislation blocking illegal and unqualified immigrants from obtaining CDLs. The committee passed the bill with a vote of 35 to 26.
“Today we’re one step closer to safer roads for Dalilah Coleman, her family, and all Americans,” said Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer, the lead sponsor of the legislation. “Ensuring each truck driver is qualified and legally operating will protect the public from these tragic, yet preventable accidents. I want to thank Chairman Graves, Secretary Duffy, and my colleagues for their support and swift action in advancing this critical legislation. I look forward to working to get this bill through the House and Senate to answer President Trump’s call to restore public trust on our roadways.”
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves said: “By approving Dalilah’s Law, T&I Republicans took an important step towards addressing this safety issue and making sure only qualified drivers can obtain a CDL. This is commonsense legislation that requires all truck drivers on our roads to be able to read and speak English, strengthens laws related to issuing CDLs, and ensures that states are following and enforcing those laws and requirements. Dalilah’s Law supports the Trump Administration’s efforts to make our roads safer. I want to commend Chairman Rouzer for his leadership on this issue, and I look forward to moving this bill quickly through the House of Representatives.”
The bill supports efforts by President Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy aimed at addressing what they describe as a safety crisis linked with border policies under the Biden Administration. It codifies many actions taken by the current administration regarding road safety. The legislation also includes provisions from Rep. Dave Taylor's Connor's Law requiring English language proficiency for all CDL holders.
Dalilah’s Law would require all CDL holders understand English well enough for road signs and law enforcement interactions; place out-of-service any driver failing these standards; require states not issue CDLs to illegal immigrants; increase penalties for noncompliant states by withholding federal funds; ban certain foreign dispatch services linked with freight fraud; and crack down on so-called "CDL mills" providing inadequate training.
