H.R. 7758: The Dalilah Law

This bill, known as The Dalilah Law, proposes changes to the issuance of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) in the United States. Here are the key points:

1. Eligibility for CDLs

The bill would prohibit the issuance of commercial driver’s licenses to:

• Individuals who are not citizens of the United States.
• Individuals who are not lawful permanent residents.
• Individuals who do not hold certain types of work visas as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The bill specifies that certain nonimmigrant visa holders will be eligible to apply for CDLs if they possess valid, unexpired visas.

2. Definitions

The bill includes definitions for several key terms:

• Commercial driver’s license: A license required to operate commercial motor vehicles.
• Commercial motor vehicle: Any vehicle used for commercial purposes, as defined in existing federal law.
• Covered examination: Tests required for obtaining or renewing a CDL, including knowledge and skills tests.
• Covered funding: Federal funding provided to states for transportation projects.

3. Disqualifications

The bill mandates disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle for life for individuals who do so without being a citizen, lawful permanent resident, or holding a qualifying nonimmigrant visa.

4. Recertification Requirements

States must require individuals currently holding CDLs to be recertified within 180 days of the bill’s enactment. This recertification would require:

• Verification of citizenship, lawful residency, or valid nonimmigrant visa status.
• Proficiency in the English language.
• Passing all required examinations in English.

Failure to successfully complete the recertification process could lead to the revocation of their CDL.

5. Funding Implications

States that fail to meet the recertification requirements or continue to issue CDLs to ineligible individuals risk losing federal transportation funding. This could include:

• Withholding funds for not completing recertifications.
• Withholding funds for failing to revoke ineligible licenses.
• Withholding for failures in status verification or English proficiency requirements.

6. Implementation Timeline

The recertification process must begin within 180 days after the enactment of the bill. Additionally, the bill lays out consequences for states that do not comply with the new requirements regarding CDLs.

Relevant Companies

• CMI (Cummins Inc.): May be impacted due to its involvement in truck manufacturing and the supply chain that relies on CDLs for freight operations.
• FDX (FedEx Corporation): May face operational impacts as a major freight and logistics company dependent on commercial drivers.
• UPS (United Parcel Service): Similar to FedEx, as a key player in the logistics sector, it may need to adjust its workforce and licensing requirements due to this legislation.