Washington, DC – The House of Representatives today passed four bills that were approved by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee earlier this Congress.
“Today, the House passed four bipartisan bills to support military personnel and veterans trying to obtain their CDLs for possible employment after they have served our country, improve disaster recovery programs, and provide greater transparency in the section of the U.S. code for the Coast Guard,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA). “Today’s votes demonstrate the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s commitment to putting forward common-sense, good-government legislation for the Nation.”
“The legislation passed today will help current and former service members to more easily obtain commercial driver’s licenses,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR). “These common-sense bills will make it easier for National Guardsmen, Reservists and veterans to find good, family-wage jobs. I thank my colleagues for working together, and I urge our Senate colleagues to pass these bipartisan bills.”
The House passed the following legislation:
- H.R. 2547: a bill to support the Nation’s veterans by expanding to all Veterans Administration medical professionals the ability to provide physical examinations on eligible veterans and issue the medical certificates required for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle if certain requirements are met. The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA) and was approved by the Committee on May 24, 2017. (approved 409 to 0)
- H.R. 2258, the Active Duty Voluntary Acquisition of Necessary Credentials for Employment (ADVANCE) Act: a bill to exempt active duty military and reserve personnel with qualifying experience from certain testing requirements when they try to obtain a commercial driver’s license. The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) and was approved by the Committee on May 24, 2017. (vote: 409 to 0)
- H.R. 1684, the Disaster Support for Communities and Homeowners Act: a bill to require the FEMA Administrator to provide recommendations on how common areas of condominiums and housing cooperatives may be eligible for disaster assistance. The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and was approved by the Committee on May 24, 2017. (approved by voice vote)
- H.R. 1726, the Coast Guard Improvement and Reform Act of 2017. This bill reorganizes title 14 of the United States Code, the section of the Code pertaining to the operation and administration of the U.S. Coast Guard. It also establishes standard administrative procedures for Coast Guard advisory committees. The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and was approved by the Committee on March 29, 2017. (approved by voice vote)
