Congress has greenlit a significant expansion of CDL training opportunities tailored for military veterans.
The newly passed Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023, which gained Senate approval last year, received a nod from the House through a voice vote on Wednesday. This bill is now en route to the White House, with the president anticipated to endorse it.
“Our veterans deserve every opportunity to participate in the American dream they’ve fought to protect,” emphasized Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., who spearheaded the legislation. “But when their service is over, many veterans face unfair roadblocks when they look for jobs. My legislation makes it easier for veterans to get their CDL licenses and earn a good living.”
The legislation, championed by the American Trucking Associations and the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, aims to eliminate the existing two-year waiting period that affects certain CDL training schools veterans might wish to attend using their GI Bill benefits.
Presently, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs cannot approve CDL courses at new branches of educational institutions unless those branches have been operational for at least two years. This bill seeks to change that by allowing the VA to approve programs at new sites, provided they are state-licensed and align with the curricula of already approved primary institutions.
Originally, House members sought to modify the bill’s language to ensure safeguards against enrolling veterans in substandard truck driving schools. “I do wish to point out that our committee has been working on this bill for months, and we reached a bipartisan agreement on improved language that would empower state agencies to conduct proper oversight and limit automatic approval of these programs if they’re opening in states without existing CDL programs,” stated Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., during the House discussions.
Despite the bill’s current wording mirroring the Senate’s version and overlooking the House’s efforts, there is a promise of support from Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., to introduce enhanced protections in future legislation.
Source: Freightwaves
