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H.R. 5656: To amend title 49, United States Code, to grant the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico eligibility to issue commercial driver’s licenses, and for other purposes.

This bill aims to amend U.S. law to allow the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to issue commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). Here are the main points outlined in the bill:

Eligibility for Commercial Driver's Licenses

The bill proposes to include the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the eligibility list for issuing commercial driver's licenses, which means that these territories would have the authority to manage and regulate their own CDL programs.

Amendment of Definitions

Specifically, the bill updates existing definitions in U.S. law to clearly state that these territories are included alongside other states under the relevant transportation regulations.

Compliance and Penalties

To ensure compliance with federal safety standards, the bill includes a provision for penalties. It specifies that financial penalties related to non-compliance will also apply to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, similar to those imposed on other states.

Implementation Support

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is instructed to assist both territories in achieving full compliance with federal motor vehicle safety regulations within a specified timeframe.

Grace Period

The bill provides a grace period of five years from the date of enactment during which the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico will not face financial penalties related to non-compliance with certain requirements. This period is meant to allow these territories time to establish their CDL programs without immediate financial repercussions.

Funding Provisions

During the grace period, any apportionment of federal funds related to highway safety will not be withheld from the Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico due to any failure to meet the requirements set forth in the law prior to their full compliance.

Summary of Impacts

The bill is essentially aimed at offering the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico the opportunity to develop their own systems for issuing commercial driver's licenses, enhanced with federal support and leniency during the initial implementation phase.

Relevant Companies

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This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.

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Sponsors

3 bill sponsors

Actions

2 actions

Date Action
Sep. 30, 2025 Introduced in House
Sep. 30, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

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