South Asheville News

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the bill proposed by U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards, aimed at enhancing veteran access to commercial driver training programs. The legislation, known as the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License (VA CDL) Act, was passed unanimously as part of the broader Veterans Education Transparency and Training (VETT) Act.

In his address to the House floor, Congressman Edwards expressed his appreciation for the collaborative efforts that led to the passage of the bill. He acknowledged the contributions of his colleagues, stating, "I’m particularly grateful to Mr. Van Orden for his collaboration in including my bill, the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023, in the VETT Act."

Highlighting the significance of the VA CDL Act, Congressman Edwards emphasized its potential to streamline the process for veterans to access commercial driver license training, ultimately addressing the current shortage of truck drivers in the country. He noted, "The VA CDL Act will increase veteran access to timely, quality commercial driver license training, increase the truck driver workforce pool, and reduce the strain on our nation’s supply chain that is currently worsened by the severe truck driver shortage."

The congressman also extended his gratitude to his bipartisan co-lead and Senate counterparts for their support in advancing the bill. He remarked, "Before I close, I’d like to thank Mr. Pappas from New Hampshire for being my bipartisan co-lead on the bill, and Senators Fischer and Padilla for leading this effort in the Senate."

Describing the legislation as a "commonsense reform," Congressman Edwards underscored its broad organizational backing and its potential to eliminate unnecessary barriers to veteran training and employment opportunities. He urged his fellow lawmakers to back H.R. 5914, the VETT Act, which incorporates the provisions of the VA CDL Act.