Commercial Motor Vehicle English Proficiency Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2114 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2114

To amend title 49, United States Code, to modify provisions relating to 
 commercial motor vehicle operator testing requirements, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 18, 2025

     Mr. Marshall (for himself, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, and Mr. Barrasso) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to modify provisions relating to 
 commercial motor vehicle operator testing requirements, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Commercial Motor Vehicle English 
Proficiency Act''.

SEC. 2. COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATOR TESTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Testing Standards.--Section 31305(a) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
        and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting 
        the clauses appropriately;
            (2) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by redesignating clauses 
                (i) through (iv) as subclauses (I) through (IV), 
                respectively, and indenting the subclauses 
                appropriately; and
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) 
                as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and 
                indenting the clauses appropriately;
            (3) in paragraph (8), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
        and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting 
        the clauses appropriately;
            (4) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (8) as 
        subparagraphs (A) through (H), respectively, and indenting the 
        subparagraphs appropriately;
            (5) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so 
        redesignated)--
                    (A) in the second sentence, by striking ``The 
                regulations'' and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Requirements.--The regulations under paragraph (1)''; 
        and
                    (B) in the first sentence, by striking ``The 
                Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations 
                on'' and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation 
        (referred to in this section as the `Secretary') shall 
        prescribe regulations establishing''; and
            (6) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) English language proficiency.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of law (including regulations), effective 
                beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of 
                enactment of the Commercial Motor Vehicle English 
                Proficiency Act, an individual shall not be eligible to 
                pass a knowledge test, in written, verbal, or automated 
                format, under this subsection, or to receive a 
                certification of fitness to operate a commercial motor 
                vehicle, unless the individual demonstrates the ability 
                to understand in English the basic information needed 
                to effectively operate, and to communicate in English 
                while operating, a commercial motor vehicle, 
                including--
                            ``(i) reading and understanding traffic 
                        signs in English;
                            ``(ii) communicating in English with 
                        traffic safety officers, border patrol agents, 
                        agricultural checkpoint officers, and cargo 
                        weight-limit station personnel; and
                            ``(iii) providing and receiving feedback 
                        and directions in English.
                    ``(B) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of law (including regulations), effective 
                beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of 
                enactment of the Commercial Motor Vehicle English 
                Proficiency Act, a knowledge test, in written, verbal, 
                or automated format, under this subsection may not be 
                administered in any language other than English.''.
    (b) Amendment to Regulations.--The Secretary of Transportation 
shall modify the regulations contained in part 383 of title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations, as the Secretary of Transportation determines to 
be necessary to implement this section and the amendments made by this 
section by the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this 
Act.
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