Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 656) to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the rules for approval by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of commercial driver education programs for purposes of veterans educational assistance, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: S. 656

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023''. SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF RULES FOR APPROVAL OF COMMERCIAL DRIVER EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR PURPOSES OF VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

(a) In General.--Section 3680A(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) though (C), respectively;

(2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary'';

(3) in paragraph (1)(B), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by inserting ``except as provided in paragraph (2),'' before ``the course''; and

(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph (2):

``(2)(A) Subject to this paragraph, a commercial driver education program is exempt from paragraph (1)(B) for a branch of an educational institution if the commercial driver education program offered at the branch by the educational institution--

``(i) is appropriately licensed; and

``(ii) uses the same curriculum as a commercial driver education program offered by the educational institution at another location that is approved for purposes of this chapter by a State approving agency or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency.

``(B)(i) In order for a commercial driver education program of an educational institution offered at a branch described in paragraph (1)(B) to be exempt under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the educational institution shall submit to the Secretary each year that paragraph (1)(B) would otherwise apply a report that demonstrates that the curriculum at the new branch is the same as the curriculum at the primary location.

``(ii) Reporting under clause (i) shall be submitted in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall establish in consultation with the State approving agencies.

``(C)(i) The Secretary may withhold an exemption under subparagraph (A) for any educational institution or branch of an educational institution as the Secretary considers appropriate.

``(ii) In making any determination under clause (i), the Secretary may consult with the Secretary of Transportation on the performance of a provider of a commercial driver program, including the status of the provider within the Training Provider Registry of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration when appropriate.''.

(b) Implementation.--

(1) Establishment of requirements.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish requirements under section 3680A(e)(2)(B)(ii) of such title, as added by subsection (a).

(2) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to commercial driver education programs on and after the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Secretary establishes the requirements under paragraph (1) of this subsection.

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Mr. BOST. 656.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 656 offered by my colleague, Senator Fischer from Nebraska. This would cut through the red tape for the approval process for commercial driving schools across the country.

House Republicans' priority is to expand the employment opportunities for veterans after they leave the military.

As a former truck driver and a former manager of our family's trucking business, which I was raised in, I know how important it is to have qualified drivers.

The American Trucking Institute said they need 60,000 more drivers to keep the economy moving. This bill allows veterans to help meet that demand.

We may need to make changes to the law to address some concerns in the future. However, it is essential that we advance the bill to create more job opportunities for our veterans. I look forward to continuing to improve CDL programs, and I urge my colleagues to support S. 656.

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Mr. BOST. You have my word we will continue to work with your staff to do the best we can. I think this bill is in very, very good shape the way it is. As the only one that actually has a CDL, we should probably realize that the safety is here, that is all good, but I would be willing to work on it in the future to move it on out today.

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Mr. BOST. Yes.

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Mr. BOST. Ask that question again. I am sorry.

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Mr. BOST. Yes.

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Mr. BOST. The updated language is in the Dole Act, if we can have the opportunity to have the Dole Act, too.
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, as a veteran and as a person that drove big stuff, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

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