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119-hr-5656119th CongressWALLET

To amend title 49, United States Code, to grant the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico eligibility to issue commercial driver's licenses, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Representative Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]

In Committee

Summary

Integrate Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands into the federal commercial driver licensing and safety system. The bill would add Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the Title 49 definition of the United States, align penalty treatment for apportioned funds, require federal help to reach compliance, and provide a five-year transition before certain funding withholdings apply.

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  • For Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands drivers and carriers: Would make those territories eligible to issue commercial driver's licenses and to join federal commercial motor vehicle safety programs. This brings local drivers and companies under federal CMV safety rules.
  • For territorial transportation agencies: Would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to work with Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to achieve full compliance with Chapter 313 and its regulations. They would get a five-year grace period before some Title 23 apportionment withholdings apply for noncompliance.
  • For penalties and federal treatment of funds: Would clarify that amounts apportioned to the U.S. Virgin Islands are considered required apportioned amounts for purposes of imposing penalties under Title 49, aligning penalty treatment with other jurisdictions.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Commercial driver rules for PR and USVI

If enacted, the bill would add Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the definition of "United States" for commercial driver safety rules. It would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to work with those territories to obtain full compliance with chapter 313 and its regulations. For five years after enactment, those territories would not be subject to withholding of certain Federal-aid highway apportionments under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 104(b) of title 23 for failure to comply with section 31311(a) of title 49.

Penalty rules for Virgin Islands funds

If enacted, the bill would treat amounts that are treated as apportioned to the U.S. Virgin Islands under section 165(c) of title 49 as if they were required apportionments for purposes of imposing any penalty under this title. That means those funds and entities receiving them would be subject to the same penalty rules that apply when amounts are required to be apportioned. The change mainly affects the U.S. Virgin Islands government and recipients of its federal funds.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]

VI • D

Cosponsors

  • Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]

    PR • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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