STRENGTHENING THE COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE INFORMATION SYSTEM ACT

On 2024-12-09, Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA-2) delivered a floor speech titled "STRENGTHENING THE COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE INFORMATION SYSTEM ACT" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, foreign policy. It referenced legislation: S3475.

STRENGTHENING THE COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE INFORMATION SYSTEM ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024)] [House] [Pages H6452-H6453] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] STRENGTHENING THE COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE INFORMATION SYSTEM ACT Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3475) to amend title 49, United States Code, to allow the Secretary of Transportation to designate an authorized operator of the commercial driver's license information system, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 3475 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 ``Strengthening the Commercial Driver's License Information System Act''. SEC. 2. COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE INFORMATION SYSTEM. (a) In General.--Section 31309 of title 49, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)-- (A) in the first sentence-- (i) by inserting ``(referred to in this section as the `Secretary')'' after ``Secretary of Transportation''; and (ii) by inserting ``(referred to in this section as the `information system')'' after ``an information system''; and (B) in the second sentence, by inserting ``information'' before ``system''; (2) in subsection (b)-- (A) in paragraph (1)-- (i) by striking ``(1) At a minimum, the information system under this section'' and inserting the following: ``(1) In general.--At a minimum, the information system''; and (ii) by indenting subparagraphs (A) through (F) appropriately; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(2) The information system under this section'' and inserting the following: ``(2) Requirement.--The information system''; (3) in subsection (e)-- (A) in paragraph (1)-- (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``under this section''; and (ii) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``information'' after ``of the''; (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``commercial driver's''; and (C) in paragraph (5), by striking ``under this section''; (4) in subsection (f)-- (A) by striking ``section 31313(a)'' and inserting ``subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 31313''; and (B) by striking ``section 31313'' and inserting ``that section''; (5) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and (6) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: ``(d) Authorized Operator.--The Secretary may authorize a qualified entity (referred to in this section as the `authorized operator')-- ``(1) to operate, maintain, develop, modernize, and enhance the information system; and ``(2) to collect fees on behalf of the Secretary in accordance with subsection (e); and ``(3) to use any fees collected in accordance with that subsection. ``(e) Fee System.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary or the authorized operator, as applicable, may charge a reasonable fee for use of the information system. ``(2) Amount of fees.--The total amount of fees collected under this subsection shall equal, as nearly as possible, the total amount necessary for the purposes and uses described in paragraph (3)(B). ``(3) Use of fees.--Fees collected under this subsection shall-- ``(A) be credited to-- ``(i) an appropriation account; or ``(ii) an account designated by the authorized operator; and ``(B) be available only for the purposes of operating, maintaining, developing, modernizing, or enhancing, or any other use relating to, the information system, including for personnel and administration costs relating to the information system. ``(4) Availability of amounts.--Fees collected under this subsection shall remain available until expended for a purpose or use described in paragraph (3)(B). ``(5) Authorized operator.--If the Secretary designates an authorized operator under subsection (d)-- ``(A) the Secretary shall not be charged a fee for access to, use of, or data in the information system; and ``(B) the Secretary shall have access to fee statements on a quarterly basis.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 31311(a)(21) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``By the date established by the Secretary under section 31309(e)(4), the State shall be operating'' and inserting ``The State shall operate''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri. General Leave Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 3475. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri? There was no objection. Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 3475, the Strengthening the Commercial Driver's License Information System Act, is important legislation and ensures that States are able to continue to share commercial motor vehicle operator's driving records. The Commercial Driver's License Information System, or the CDLIS, has long been maintained and operated by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, AAMVA on behalf of the States. The system allows States to share information with one another, preventing commercial motor vehicle operators from holding multiple commercial driver's licenses, or CDLs, in different States. {time} 1415 CDLIS is used to maintain the principle of one commercial motor vehicle [[Page H6453]] license per every one commercial motor vehicle driver. Traditionally, States paid user fees directly to AAMVA, and the fees were used to maintain and update CDLIS. In 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration interpreted the existing statute and ruled that fees could no longer be paid by the States directly to AAMVA and, instead, must go to the Federal Government, leaving CDLIS with no real funding mechanism. There have been additional concerns raised that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would need to directly operate and request new funding for a system that was previously self-sufficient. This bill allows the Secretary of Transportation to designate an authorized operator of the Commercial Driver's License Information System, which would allow States to again pay fees directly to AAMVA and continue operating under the status quo. The bill is supported by AAMVA and the American Trucking Associations. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3475, legislation that is sponsored by Senator Peters. This bill would make technical corrections to the Commercial Driver's License Information System, or CDLIS, to ensure the system continues to function as intended. CDLIS is a nationwide database that allows States to share information about commercial driver records. The system assures commercial drivers are properly vetted with a single license and a complete record, which is critical for the safety of our roads. Absent this tool, commercial drivers could lose their license for safety violations in one State but then simply apply for a license in a different State. This legislation ensures the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration can continue to partner with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators to access the database and records. The Department of Transportation informed Congress that a technical revision to the law is needed to allow the system to continue to operate successfully. This legislation provides that correction and ensures that any fees collected go toward operating and maintaining the system. Mr. Speaker, the Commercial Driver's License Information System is the backbone of a safe commercial driving industry. This bill would ensure the continued operation of this critical tool and protect other safety priorities, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, the Strengthening the Commercial Driver's License Information System Act ensures that States can continue to rely on the Commercial Driver's License Information System. This system is crucial to maintaining the principle of one commercial motor vehicle driver to one commercial motor vehicle license. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 3475. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S3475, S3475