The House of Representatives Friday passed a Senate bill (S. 3624) that lets states issue commercial driver's licenses to military personnel stationed in the state instead of in their home state.


The Military Commercial Drivers License Act of 2012 will ease the transition of recent veterans into jobs as commercial truck drivers. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill within the next few days.

Rep. Larry Bucshon sponsored the House version, which was identical to S. 3624, along with Mike Quigley and John Carney.

American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves thanked the House and Senate for quickly passing the bill.

"As the economy continues to recover, it is becoming ever more challenging for trucking companies to find qualified drivers to move America's most essential goods," Graves said. "Veterans with experience driving trucks in the military are highly sought after."

"Making it easier for veterans to move into these jobs is a good thing for the military, for the veterans themselves and for our industry."

This bill would remove a barrier which some military members needlessly face: barring of the receipt of a CDL by an individual who is not domiciled in the state. BY carving out an exception for individuals who are stationed, temporarily or permanently, in a state due to military service, this bill moves toward the goal of ensuring that no one who has served be unable to secure gainful employment.

"Again, The American Legion fully supports enacting H.R. 6456 and applauds your leadership in addressing this critical issue facing our nation's veterans."

James E. 'Jim' Koutz, national commander of The American Legion, noted that the legislation removed a barrier some military members needlessly face.

"By carving out an exception for individuals who are stationed, temporarily or permanently, in a state due to military service, this bill moves toward the goal of ensuring that no one who has served be unable to secure gainful employment," Koutz said.

Other groups expressing their support included the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the Military Officers Association of America.

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9/27/2012 Bill Would Make it Easier for Service Members to Get CDL