HR 7793
The Dalilah Law
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- Passed Senate
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Bill overview
The Dalilah Law prohibits states from issuing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to individuals who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, or who hold specific work visas. It also requires states to verify the immigration status of current CDL holders and mandates recertification with English proficiency testing. States that fail to comply with these requirements could face withholding of federal funding.
Key provisions
- Prohibits CDL issuance to non-citizens and certain visa holders.
- Requires states to verify the immigration status of current CDL holders.
- Mandates recertification for existing CDL holders, including English proficiency testing.
- Establishes a potential penalty of withheld federal funding for states that fail to comply with the law's requirements.
- Defines key terms such as ‘commercial driver’s license,’ ‘commercial motor vehicle,’ and ‘covered funding.’
- Specifies the types of nonimmigrant visas that qualify an individual for a CDL.
- Creates a lifetime disqualification for operating a commercial motor vehicle in the U.S. without proper immigration status.
- Sets deadlines for state recertification and revocation processes.
Who is affected
- Commercial truck drivers
- State Departments of Motor Vehicles
- States
- Immigrants
- U.S. Citizens
Notable changes
- Creates a permanent lifetime disqualification for operating a commercial motor vehicle without proper immigration status.
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 7793
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To prohibit the issuance of commercial driver’s licenses to individuals who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States or holders of certain work visas, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as The Dalilah Law
.
In this section:
The term commercial driver’s license has the meaning given the term in section 31301 of title 49, United States Code.
The term commercial motor vehicle has the meaning given the term in section 31301 of title 49, United States Code.
The term covered examination means any test or examination relating to the issuance or renewal of a covered license or authorization, including—
a commercial driver’s license skills test; and
any other test or examination required to acquire, maintain, or upgrade a covered license or authorization.
The term covered funding, with respect to a State, means any funding that is authorized to be provided by the Secretary to that State, or for a project or activity carried out in that State, under any provision of Federal law (including regulations).
The term covered license or authorization means—
any other license or authorization issued by a State authorizing an individual to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
The term non-domiciled commercial driver’s license means a commercial driver’s license issued by a State or other jurisdiction to an individual who is not domiciled in that State or jurisdiction, in accordance with part 383 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
Section 31311(a)(12) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
by striking who operates
and inserting the following: “who—
operates
in clause (i) (as so designated), by striking vehicle and is
and inserting the following: “vehicle;
is
in clause (ii) (as so designated), by striking State.
and inserting the following: “State; and
is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
in subparagraph (B)—
in clause (i), by striking and
at the end;
in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States; or
in subparagraph (C)—
andat the end;
in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States; or
Section 31310 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
paragraph (9) of; and
by striking 7102(9)
and inserting 7102
; and
by adding at the end the following:
The Secretary shall disqualify from operating a commercial motor vehicle for life an individual who operates a commercial motor vehicle in the United States while that individual is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States or a nonimmigrant described in subparagraph (E)(ii), (H)(ii)(a), or (H)(ii)(b) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) in possession of a valid, unexpired nonimmigrant visa issued to the individual pursuant to any such subparagraph, unless such individual—
To avoid the withholding of covered funding under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (e), a State shall—
is proficient in the English language, as described in section 391.11(b)(2) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act); and
has passed all covered examinations relating to the covered license or authorization in English; and
revoke the covered license or authorization of any individual who—
fails to recertify by the deadline described in paragraph (1); or
not to be proficient in the English language, as described in section 391.11(b)(2) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act); or
not to have passed all covered examinations relating to the covered license or authorization in English.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning with the first fiscal year beginning after the deadline for recertifications under subsection (d)(1), the Secretary shall withhold all covered funding from a State that fails to complete the revocations described in subsection (d)(2) by that deadline.
administers any covered examination in any language other than English.