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Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.), who chairs the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, argues that the bill responds to a series of preventable crashes involving drivers who should not have been behind the wheel. (T&I Committee Republicans via YouTube)

Dalilah’s Law — a bill to toughen English-language proficiency rules for commercial drivers — is now moving to the House floor, setting up an April vote in Rep. David Rouzer’s (R‑N.C.) push to tighten CDL eligibility and enforcement.

Rouzer’s proposal, spotlighted during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, cleared the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee before the Easter recess. The measure aims to clarify states’ responsibilities for verifying a CDL applicant’s eligibility and English-language ability, requirements supporters say are too often inconsistently enforced.

“The bottom line of it all is we’re strengthening the CDL system. Not just the standards but also the enforcement of those standards, and we’re strengthening it at every stage: Eligibility, training, testing and enforcement,” Rouzer told Transport Topics on March 25.

Rouzer, who chairs the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, argues that the bill responds to a series of preventable crashes involving drivers who should not have been behind the wheel. He describes Dalilah’s Law as a set of “common-sense reforms” intended to improve roadway safety and uphold the integrity of the trucking industry. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R‑La.) is preparing to bring the bill to the floor “as soon as we can,” Rouzer said, likely as a stand-alone vote.

Full committee Chairman Sam Graves (R‑Mo.) said the bill is designed to ensure states follow federal CDL rules. “This is common-sense 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,” he said at a March 18 hearing.

Thanks for your leadership and support, — proud to work together to advance Dalilah’s Law and make our roads safer. — Rep. David Rouzer (@RepDavidRouzer)

Democrats on the committee, however, have raised concerns about implementation and the potential fallout for drivers who already hold valid credentials.

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Ranking member Rep. Rick Larsen (D‑Wash.) said, “If this legislation is enacted, up to 200,000 drivers — who took the same credentialing and safety tests as U.S. citizens — will have their CDLs forcibly revoked and lose their job.”

In addition to tightening English-language verification, Dalilah’s Law would require states to certify they are not issuing CDLs to individuals ineligible under federal law. The bill also increases penalties, targets freight fraud and cargo theft, and seeks to crack down on fraudulent “CDL mills” that issue licenses without proper testing. A companion bill is pending before a Senate committee.

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backs the bill. ATA President Chris Spear said the measure would improve consistency in CDL issuance and enforcement nationwide. “Rules are only effective when they are consistently enforced. Bad actors who cheat the system and cut corners undermine responsible fleets and create unacceptable hazards for everyone,” Spear said March 18. “Dalilah’s Law would restore accountability by establishing rigorous, consistent requirements for CDL testing, issuance and oversight.”

Dalilah’s Law is named for Dalilah Coleman, who was 5 when she suffered serious injuries in a 2024 multi-vehicle crash involving a truck driver federal officials said lacked legal immigration status. She attended Trump’s Feb. 24 State of the Union as a guest of the president. During the address, Trump urged Congress to prohibit individuals without legal status from holding CDLs, saying they “cannot read even the most basic road signs as to direction, speed, danger or location.” His remarks helped galvanize Republican support for the measure.