An Act To streamline the process by which active duty military, reservists, and veterans receive commercial driver’s licenses.

Jan. 8, 2018

[S. 1393]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Jobs for Our Heroes Act.

49 USC 30101 note.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “Jobs for Our Heroes Act”.

SEC. 2. MEDICAL CERTIFICATE FOR VETERANS OPERATING COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES.(a) Qualified Examiners.—Section 5403(d)(2) of the FAST Act (49 U.S.C. 31149 note; 129 Stat. 1548) is amended to read as follows:“(2)

Definition.

Qualified examiner.—The term ‘qualified examiner’ means an individual who—“(A) is employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs as an advanced practice nurse, doctor of chiropractic, doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, physician assistant, or other medical professional; “(B) is licensed, certified, or registered in a State to perform physical examinations; “(C) is familiar with the standards for, and physical requirements of, an operator required to be medically certified under section 31149 of title 49, United States Code; and “(D) has never, with respect to such section, been found to have acted fraudulently, including by fraudulently awarding a medical certificate.” . (b) Conforming Amendments.—Section 5403 of the FAST Act (49 U.S.C. 31149 note; 129 Stat. 1548) is amended—(1) in subsection (a), by striking “physician-approved veteran operator, the qualified physician” and inserting “veteran operator approved by a qualified examiner, the qualified examiner”; (2) in subsection (b)(1)—(A) by striking “the physician” and inserting “the examiner”; and (B) by striking “qualified physician” and inserting “qualified examiner”; (3) in subsection (c)—(A) by striking “qualified physicians” and inserting “qualified examiners”; and (B) by striking “such physicians” and inserting “such examiners”; and131 STAT. 2264 (4) in subsection (d)—(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as paragraphs (3), (1), and (2), respectively, and by moving the text of paragraph (3), as redesignated, to appear after paragraph (2), as redesignated; and (B) in paragraph (3), as redesignated—(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking “Physician-approved veteran operator” and inserting “Veteran operator approved by a qualified examiner”; and (ii) by striking “physician-approved veteran operator” and inserting “veteran operator approved by a qualified examiner”. (c)

49 USC 31149 note.

Rulemaking.—The amendments made by this section shall be incorporated into any rulemaking proceeding related to section 5403 of the FAST Act (49 U.S.C. 31149 note; 129 Stat. 1548) that is being conducted as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE STANDARDS FOR CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. Section 31305(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—(1) in the subsection heading, by striking “Veteran Operators” and inserting “Operators Who Are Members of the Armed Forces, Reservists, or Veterans”; (2) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking “subparagraph (A) during, at least,” and inserting “subparagraph (A)—“(i) while serving in the armed forces or reserve components; and “(ii) during” ; and (3) in paragraph (2)(B)—(A) by inserting “current or” before “former” each place the term appears; and (B) by inserting “one of” before “the reserve components”.

Approved January 8, 2018.