[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3576-H3577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VETERANS' TRANSITION TO TRUCKING ACT OF 2025
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2954) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to approve multi-State apprenticeship
programs for purposes of veterans educational assistance, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2954
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Transition to
Trucking Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO
APPROVE MULTI-STATE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS
PROVIDED BY COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVING SCHOOLS
FOR PURPOSES OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 3672(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
(2) in subparagraph (A), in the matter before clause (i),
by striking ``The State'' and inserting ``Except as provided
in subparagraph (B), the State''; and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new
subparagraph (B):
``(B) The Secretary may act in the role of a State
approving agency for purposes of approval of a multi-State
apprenticeship program provided by a commercial truck driving
school.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R.
2954, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2954, as amended,
offered by my colleagues, the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas)
and the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans).
This bill, as amended, would allow the VA to approve the commercial
driver's license apprenticeship program that operates in more than one
State.
This bill would cut the red tape and stop an interstate company from
having to seek approval in every State they operate in.
This bill would also allow more veterans to pursue careers in the
trucking industry.
I come from a trucking family. As a former driver and a manager and
operator of the family trucking business, I know how important it is to
have qualified drivers. Trust me, I know.
The American Trucking Institute publishes a report that shows there
is a shortage of 82,000 drivers and an anticipated shortage of 160,000
drivers by 2031. This bill would allow veterans to meet the demand by
using their education benefits through the VA apprenticeship programs.
I am supportive of the intent of this bill as we must ensure that
veterans find meaningful employment, while meeting the demand of an
important industry in our Nation's economy. My committee will continue
to seek ways to help create meaningful employment for veterans and
streamlining veterans' programs.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2954, as
amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2954, the Veterans' Transition
to Trucking Act.
The first year of a servicemember's transition to civilian life is
often one of the most stressful. This period is marked by huge shifts
in responsibilities, new family duties and new costs, like housing,
food, and childcare. Veterans also must navigate finding employment
which may involve translating military experience into something
civilian employers will understand.
The Veterans' Transition to Trucking Act proposes to improve hiring
through expediting training programs. By coordinating approvals for
training institutions, more veterans can find employment faster.
Representative Pappas, a longtime member of our committee, authored
this legislation. Trucking is the primary means for moving goods
through his State. In New Hampshire, it is not uncommon to see a load
of timber or even heating oil moving on the road. His constituents
depend on this industry, and veterans seek employment in trucking.
While trucking isn't the fit for all veterans, I recognize that
veterans who seek a role in the industry shouldn't have to fight to
find a training institution.
With the price of goods and now fuel skyrocketing in the Trump
economy, the last thing we should be doing is making it harder for
veterans to find employment in logistics and shipping.
I thank Representative Pappas for serving as the ranking member on
the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity where he is a strong voice for
veteran employment opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New
Hampshire (Mr. Pappas), my good friend and the ranking member of the
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity and the author of this
legislation.
Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding, and
I thank the chairman for his leadership and his endorsement of this
commonsense legislation, the Veterans' Transition to Trucking Act,
which is a bipartisan bill I introduced last year.
I have met too many veterans who struggle to find careers that are
aligned with their goals and their skills when their military service
ends.
We know that we all owe it to our heroes to do everything we can to
support their transition to civilian life, including helping them find
rewarding jobs and financial security.
Trucking is an essential sector of our economy, and they continue to
hire more drivers.
[[Page H3577]]
Through the apprenticeship programs offered by motor carriers,
veterans can use GI Bill education benefits to launch a career in
trucking.
Right now, a patchwork of State laws make it difficult for the VA to
approve certain trucking apprenticeships.
Some companies opt out of offering apprenticeships due to the
bureaucratic hurdles of obtaining approval from more than 20 different
State approving agencies.
This legislation would allow interstate commercial carriers to obtain
a single VA approval for all of their apprenticeships, simplifying
program administration for motor carriers and increasing the number of
opportunities that are available to veterans.
Cutting red tape so trucking companies can employ veterans and help
our economy is just common sense.
This legislation is bipartisan and also has the support of the
Disabled American Veterans and the American Trucking Association.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I couldn't resist saying it, but this legislation will
help our veterans keep on trucking. I know the chairman gets the gist
of that.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2954,
the Veterans' Transition to Trucking Act, as amended, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this
legislation. Let the veterans and the truckers roll.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 2954, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veteran
Affairs to approve multi-State apprenticeship programs provided by
commercial truck driving schools for purposes of Department of Veterans
Affairs educational assistance programs, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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