{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://hageman.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-taylor-introduces-connors-law-requiring-english-proficiency-cdl", "Congressman Taylor Introduces Connor\u2019s Law, Requiring English Proficiency for CDL Drivers", "2025-05-29", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "House", "WY", "Harriet M. Hageman", "H001096", "hageman.house.gov", "hageman", "https://hageman.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) and Representative Harriet Hageman (WY-AL) today announced the introduction of Connor\u2019s Law, which will codify President Trump\u2019s Executive Order requiring CDL drivers to maintain a basic proficiency in English in order to be licensed to drive on American roads. This bill includes an out-of-service provision, which will revoke CDL licensure from any current license holders who fail to adhere to language requirements. Representatives Mike Collins (GA-10), Paul Gosar (AZ-08), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), and Brad Finstad (MN-01) joined Congressman Taylor in the introduction of this bill.\n\nIn 2017, an 18-year-old named Connor Dzion was killed in an automobile accident in Northern Florida by a distracted truck driver who was found unable to speak English or read signs warning of upcoming traffic. Although English standards were initially included in the qualification process for commercial drivers, previous Democratic administrations removed violations of English Language Proficiency (ELP) from the out-of-service criteria. This action made CDL requirements more lax and increased the risk of accidents on the road, like the one that resulted in Connor\u2019s death. Due to this, Congressional action is needed to restore proper CDL requirements and ensure safety on American roads.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s Ohio common sense that if you want to drive trucks on our Nation\u2019s roads, you should be able to read the road signs,\u201d said Congressman Taylor. \u201cTragic deaths like Connor\u2019s are absolutely preventable, and it starts with ensuring drivers operating large and heavy commercial vehicles are capable of being alerted to hazards and updates on the road. President Trump demonstrated leadership through his executive order requiring CDL drivers to speak English, which paved the way for driver safety, and I\u2019m proud to introduce this bill to codify it and do the same.\u201d\n\n\"Requiring truck drivers to be proficient in reading and speaking the English language is just common sense,\u201d said Rep. Harriet Hageman. \u201cDriving some of the biggest rigs on our highway systems, often in inclement weather, creates risk enough, but this liability is exacerbated when truck drivers can neither read our highway signs nor clearly communicate with others on the road, thereby putting everyone in danger. I've heard from our trucking community and law enforcement officers alike emphasizing the need for this legislation, so today I am proud to join Congressman Taylor in its introduction.\"\n\n\u201cFamilies are being torn apart, the trucking industry is suffering, and the American people are less safe with non-English speakers behind the wheel. The motoring public deserves to know that the folks they share the road with can comprehend English and understand our rules,\u201d said Rep. Mike Collins. \u201cAs a trucker, I applaud Rep. Taylor for his work to reverse this terrible Obama-era rule and make our roads safer.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe ability to read road signs, understand the rules of the road, and communicate with law enforcement officials is vital to ensuring the safety of all motorists. That\u2019s why English proficiency is a requirement for operating a commercial motor vehicle,\u201d said Henry Hanscom, Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the American Trucking Association. \u201cATA has raised concerns that conflicting guidance and uneven enforcement have sparked confusion over this law that has been in place since the 1930s. We welcomed President Trump\u2019s recent executive order that provides much-needed clarity, and we commend Reps. Taylor and Hageman\u2019s effort to codify an objective, consistent, and effective standard.\u201d\n\n\u201cOOIDA and the 150,000 truckers we proudly represent strongly support the enforcement of English proficiency requirements for commercial drivers because it saves lives,\u201d said Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association President Todd Spencer. \u201cBasic English skills are essential for reading critical road signs, understanding emergency instructions, and interacting with law enforcement. Road signs are effective\u2014but only when they\u2019re understood. We thank Representative Taylor for his leadership on this issue because English proficiency is not optional\u2014it\u2019s crucial for keeping America\u2019s roads safe for the entire traveling public.\u201d\n\nIf enacted, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, part of the Department of Transportation, will establish guidelines and enforcement mechanisms for the English proficiency of CDL drivers.\n\nInitially enacted in 1937 with the establishment of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), 49 CFR \u00a7391.11(b)(2) created general qualifications for commercial motor vehicle drivers. Among these qualifications was a requirement stating that drivers must be able to \u201cread and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records.\u201d\n\nHowever, in 2016, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released guidance titled \u201cEnglish Language Proficiency Testing and Enforcement Policy MC-ECE-2016-006,\u201d which removed the requirement to place drivers out of service for ELP violations.\n\nSpecifically, Connor\u2019s Law would:\n\nCodify ELP into law as a requirement for individuals issued a commercial driver\u2019s license, and;\n\nPut CDL drivers violating the ELP requirement out of service.\n\nThe American Trucking Association (ATA), Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC), and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) are supporting organizations of this bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://hageman.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-taylor-introduces-connors-law-requiring-english-proficiency-cdl"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.8503937646746635, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}