The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday moved Dalilah’s Law forward with a 35–26 vote.
The bill, spearheaded by Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), gained momentum following President Trump’s recent State of the Union address, where he urged lawmakers to take legislative action on the matter.
"I look forward to working to get this bill through the House and Senate to answer President Trump’s call to restore public trust on our roadways," said Rouzer.
The bill would require all commercial truck drivers to demonstrate English language proficiency and ban motor carriers from using certain foreign-based dispatch services.
"Representative Rouzer’s bill, Dalilah’s Law, codifies a simple premise: no English, no license," said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. "Unqualified and unvetted foreigners have no business getting behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound vehicle and killing innocent American families."
To ensure states follow the mandates, the bill proposes withholding federal highway funds from non-compliant states. A state could lose up to 8% of its apportioned federal highway funds for the first offense and a maximum of 12% for subsequent violations. The financial penalties would take effect Oct. 1, 2026.
"Today we’re one step closer to safer roads for Dalilah Coleman, her family, and all Americans," said Rouzer. "Ensuring each truck driver is qualified and legally operating will protect the public from these tragic, yet preventable accidents."
The proposed legislation is named after Dalilah Coleman, who was five years old when she suffered critical injuries in a collision caused by an undocumented immigrant operating a semi-truck.
Earlier this year, Dalilah was a guest of President Trump at the State of the Union address. During the speech, the President highlighted her story to advocate for a federal ban on granting commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to unqualified individuals and those in the country illegally. Proponents of the bill argue that Dalilah’s tragic accident is part of a broader trend of safety incidents involving drivers who lack the proper qualifications to operate heavy commercial vehicles safely.
