South Asheville News

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed Senate bill S. 656, known as the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License (VA CDL) Act, by a unanimous voice vote. This legislation aims to improve veterans' access to commercial driver-education programs using their GI Bill benefits.

Representative Edwards introduced the House companion bill, H.R. 2830, which had previously passed the House as part of H.R. 5914, the Veterans Education Transparency and Training (VETT) Act in April 2023. The VA CDL Act is notable as it is the first bill co-led by Edwards to reach the president's desk for signing into law.

Edwards addressed the House floor, emphasizing how this legislation will remove bureaucratic obstacles that currently prevent veterans from accessing commercial driver training programs. He acknowledged Senators Fischer and Padilla for their leadership on this initiative.

"Thank you Mr. Speaker, and thank you to Senators Fischer and Padilla for their leadership on the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act," Edwards said. "I was happy to introduce the House version of this very important bill, H.R. 2830, and I look forward to the benefit this language will add to veterans’ quality of life once it becomes law."

Edwards highlighted that many service members face significant challenges when transitioning to civilian life, including high unemployment rates among veterans shortly after leaving military service.

"A 2016 study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation found that 53 percent of all veterans were unemployed for at least four months after leaving the military," he noted.

The VA CDL Act aims to address these issues by increasing access to commercial driver license training for veterans, thereby reducing unemployment or underemployment among them and helping alleviate strain on the nation's supply chain by expanding the truck driver workforce pool.

Currently, about 8,400 commercial driving programs are approved for use by eligible veterans under the GI Bill; however, a "two-year rule" prevents these facilities from accepting GI benefits at secondary locations for two years.

"This burdensome red tape has excluded many veterans from attending closer ‘secondary branch’ training facilities and dissuaded service members from joining the trucking industry," Edwards explained.

The new legislation exempts new branches of pre-approved training facilities located within the same state from this statutory two-year wait period.

Chris Spear, President and CEO of American Trucking Associations, also voiced support: "When the brave men and women in our armed forces return home, the last thing they should have to worry about is red tape preventing them from achieving the American dream that they fought to defend."

Spear added that improving veteran access to CDL programs would open opportunities for good-paying jobs in an industry facing labor shortages: "We are appreciative of the leadership by Representatives Edwards and Pappas on this important bill."