{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.lummis.senate.gov/press-releases/lummis-introduces-legislation-to-codify-trump-eo-require-basic-english-skills-for-truck-drivers/", "Lummis Introduces Legislation To Codify Trump EO, Require Basic English Skills For Truck Drivers", "2025-10-14", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "WY", "Cynthia M. Lummis", "L000571", "www.lummis.senate.gov", "lummis", "https://www.lummis.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced the Senate version of Connor\u2019s Law, a bill implementing President Trump\u2019s Executive Order requiring CDL drivers to demonstrate fundamental English skills to receive driving licenses in the United States.\n\n\u201cWyoming families and travelers deserve safe highways,\u201d said Lummis. \u201cI\u2019m introducing this common sense legislation to ensure commercial truck drivers operating heavy vehicles can simply read signs, understand traffic laws, and communicate effectively with law enforcement and emergency responders. Wyoming is a critical interstate commerce hub, with I-80 as a major shipping corridor. Our challenging road conditions, including high winds, winter storms, and mountains, demand clear communication between drivers and authorities. This legislation will correct the major mistake the Obama administration made in undermining these rules and will codify President Trump\u2019s Executive Order to make our highways safer for all Americans.\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 American Trucking Associations Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom. \u201cWe welcomed President Trump\u2019s executive order that provided much-needed clarity, and we commend this effort by Senators Lummis and Barrasso to codify an objective, consistent, and effective standard. ATA stands ready to work with the Administration and USDOT on ensuring there is uniform enforcement and a high standard of safety on our highways.\u201d\n\n\u201cOOIDA and professional truckers across America applaud Senator Lummis for her leadership in taking action to address the long-ignored issue of English proficiency among commercial drivers,\u201d said Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association President Todd Spencer. \u201cThe ability to read and communicate in English is not just a matter of convenience, it\u2019s a matter of safety for everyone who shares the road. By ensuring that all truck drivers who operate 80,000 lb. pieces of machinery on public roadways can read signs, and communicate with law enforcement and first responders, this legislation strengthens accountability and helps prevent tragedies before they happen. OOIDA strongly supports efforts that make our highways safer and our industry more professional.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThis legislation would:\n\nRequire English language proficiency for all commercial driver\u2019s license holders, and; take drivers who don\u2019t meet the English requirement off the road.\n\nThe law is named after Connor Dzion, who in 2017 at just 18 years old and during his freshman year of college at University of North Florida, died in a car crash involving a truck driver who was distracted and could not understand English or read traffic warning signs.\n\nA 2016 Obama-era policy weakened previously established CDL standards that included English requirements.\n\nRepresentative David Taylor (OH-02) introduced this legislation in the U.S. House.\n\nBoth Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and Representative Harriet Hageman (R-WY) are cosponsors of this legislation.\n\nTrump Administration Executive Order: Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America\u2019s Truck Drivers", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"]], "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://www.lummis.senate.gov/press-releases/lummis-introduces-legislation-to-codify-trump-eo-require-basic-english-skills-for-truck-drivers/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9259390644729137, "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"}