Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne on Trucking Licenses for Illegal Immigrants and Freight Theft

Surge in Freight Theft and Accidents

• 📈 Freight theft has skyrocketed 1,500% since 2021, particularly in California and the Chicago area.
• ⚠️ The individuals involved in this theft are described as foreign, unvetted gangsters, who are also employing drivers.
• 🚨 Since 2021, under the Biden administration's trucking action plan, there has been a significant increase in accidents, with at least 12 fatalities reported in five fatal crashes across several states.

Concerns Over Driver Licensing

• 🚫 Licenses are being given to individuals who do not speak English, cannot pass proficiency tests, and are not legally in the country.
• ⚖️ A federal appeals court in DC blocked the Trump administration's rules that restricted illegal aliens from obtaining truck driver permits.
• 🗣️ The congresswoman emphasizes the importance of drivers being able to speak English and read signs for highway safety.

Proposed Solutions and State Actions

• 📝 A bill has been introduced to crack down on the issuance of licenses to unqualified individuals, seeking support from both Republican and Democrat colleagues.
• 💰 Withholding transportation highway dollars from states like California and New York that are issuing licenses without proper requirements is suggested as a necessary measure.
• 📄 California has revoked 17,000 trucking licenses that were improperly issued, with an additional 62,000 found to have been given out in a similar manner.