English Proficiency Requirement for Commercial Drivers Proposed
Rep. Pat Harrigan from North Carolina is leading a new initiative aimed at making English proficiency a required standard for commercial drivers. This comes in light of serious accidents involving illegal immigrants who have failed to meet language requirements.
Harrigan emphasized the importance of communication in driving, saying, “If you can’t read ‘bridge ahead’ or talk to state troopers during an accident, then you shouldn’t be behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound truck on our highways.”
The Safe Driving Act, announced Wednesday morning, has both Rep. Troy Neals from Texas and Rep. Bob Onder from Missouri as co-sponsors.
This proposed legislation would instruct states to implement English proficiency tests for those applying for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). Additionally, it seeks to give the Secretary of Transportation greater oversight to ensure compliance.
The Secretary would be authorized to withhold funding for various commercial driver programs if a state isn’t adhering to these standards. Moreover, states would have to report annually to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on the compliance of applicants for CDLs.
“We need a consolidated English test before a CDL is issued—no more guesswork, no more loopholes. Just one standard to keep Americans safe,” Harrigan stated.
This initiative follows a tragic incident involving Harjinder Singh, an undocumented immigrant who, last August in Florida, caused a fatal accident after ignoring the English language requirement while obtaining his CDL in California.
In a separate event, Jashanpreet Singh, another undocumented individual, allegedly crashed into traffic while intoxicated. He too received a CDL from California despite not meeting language proficiency post his release under the Biden administration.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy pointed out that these cases showcase failures in the existing system which should have prevented such incidents. “The U.S. Department of Transportation has dismissed thousands of drivers for not speaking English,” Duffy remarked, alluding to the consequences California is facing for lax enforcement.
Harrigan’s proposal isn’t the only one pushing for stricter regulations. Recently, Senator Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming put forward a bill suggesting that drivers failing to meet driving standards be labeled “suspended.” However, Harrigan’s bill specifically addresses language requirements prior to issuing a CDL.
Harrigan noted that while federal regulations mandate English proficiency, there’s currently no unified testing system to enforce it. This gap allows states like California to issue licenses to individuals who might not understand basic safety instructions.
It’s worth noting that, like several recent proposals, the Safe Driving Act may not be brought to a vote until lawmakers resolve ongoing budget disputes, including a 23-day government shutdown. The Senate has already turned down a short-term funding bill multiple times.
