Andrea Joy Campbell: “today I am introducing companion legislation to H.R. 2466, the Commercial Driver's License Devolution Act of 2001, which…”

“today I am introducing companion legislation to H.R. 2466, the Commercial Driver's License Devolution Act of 2001, which was originally brought to the floor of the House of Representatives last July by my friend from North Carolina, Representative Howard Coble. I believe it is no secret to my colleagues here in the Senate, that I support small business and returning power to the States. The traditional, one-size-fits-all approach to governing has done more harm than good, and this bill is an attempt to remedy some of that. This legislation will give States the option to establish their own commercial driver's license, CDL, requirements for intrastate drivers. It will return power to the States by giving them the option to license intrastate drivers of commercial motor vehicles based upon testing standards determined by the individual States. And I stress, it will be an 'option.' I want to emphasize that this legislation is not a Federal mandate imposed on States. States that choose not to participate would remain under Federal guidelines. A State that chooses to exercise this option would in no way diminish the role of the CDL in the long-haul trucking industry. Additionally, this legislation effectively precludes two or more States from using this option as the basis for an interstate compact.”