Republican U.S. Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois is pushing a federal crackdown on driver licensing after state data revealed nearly 1 in 5 commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) with English‑language proficiency infractions were issued by Illinois. Miller says she’s witnessed the problem firsthand during visits to truck stops in her district.
Miller is backing legislation dubbed the Safe Driving Law Act, which would allow the federal government to withhold half of highway funding from states that ignore CDL compliance. She argues the move is necessary to restore trucking jobs to Americans and to force states and trucking companies to follow the law.
According to Illinois State Police records, the rate of English-language infractions among CDL holders in Illinois is concerning. Miller warns that without federal pressure, the state has little incentive to act.
Illinois currently requires CDL applicants to be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, though individuals holding valid deferred‑action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program may qualify. DACA was frozen earlier this year amid legal challenges; USCIS continues to honor active DACA documents but is not accepting new requests.
On a related note, Democratic Illinois Senator Dick Durbin recently reintroduced the Dream Act — a proposal intended to grant legal status to DACA recipients who meet requirements such as criminal‑history checks and English proficiency testing. Durbin cited stories of DACA holders working as teachers, nurses, doctors, and small‑business owners in communities across the United States.
Miller’s proposal could trigger a heated fight over federal funding and immigration enforcement if states like Illinois resist tightening CDL and immigration rules.
