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Representative Carter Introduces Bill to Address Bus Driver ShortageDriving Forward Act Ensures Every Child Has Access to Education
Washington,
April 18, 2024
Representative John Carter (TX-31) introduced H.R. 8041, the Driving Forward Act, this week. The bipartisan Driving Forward Act extends the current under-the-hood test exemption to get qualified individuals into the driver's seat to address the nationwide shortage of bus drivers. Original cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), Virginia Foxx (R-NC-05), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD-02), Pete Sessions (R-TX-17), and Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA-15). The National School Transportation Association supports the bill.
Representative John Carter (TX-31) introduced H.R. 8041, the Driving Forward Act, this week. The bipartisan Driving Forward Act extends the current under-the-hood test exemption to get qualified individuals into the driver's seat to address the nationwide shortage of bus drivers. Original cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), Virginia Foxx (R-NC-05), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD-02), Pete Sessions (R-TX-17), and Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA-15). The National School Transportation Association supports the bill.
"Nearly half of all students rely on the school bus to get to school daily," said Representative John Carter. "There are countless examples of how the nationwide bus driver shortage is shortchanging kids and leaving parents scrambling. Ensuring students can get to school is a burden for our schools, and we cannot hamstring them by placing unnecessary barriers to bus driver entry. The Driving Forward Act will ensure that the under-the-hood test exemption remains in place so qualified individuals can get in the driver's seat sooner and get our kids to school."
“The key to success in the twenty-first century is a quality education,” said Congressman Henry Cuellar. “However, it is impossible for students to learn without reliable and safe transportation. The pandemic has only worsened a school bus driver shortage affecting school districts nationwide, especially in South Texas. Today, I am introducing the Driving Forward Act alongside Congressman Carter to reinforce the school bus driver workforce and ensure our students can get to school safely.”
"This is a common-sense solution to address the critical shortage of bus drivers school districts are experiencing in communities across the country, including Maryland, without compromising safety,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “In fact, Maryland is one of 12 states currently exempting bus drivers from unnecessary under-the-hood requirements – significantly relieving the shortage -- but this exemption is set to expire. This bipartisan bill is a win for schools, for working parents and especially for children who deserve every opportunity to get to school safely and on-time.”
Local and National Educators Support the Driving Forward Act:
"The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) strongly supports the “Driving Forward Act” that will extend the current exemption from the under-the-hood testing requirement for school bus driver CDL applicants for a total of five years. This exemption has been adopted by 12 states and has proven instrumental in producing critical additional dedicated school bus drivers in those states, thus providing more children access to the safest form of transportation to and from school, the yellow school bus,” said Curt Macysyn, Executive Director of the National School Transportation Association.
“We appreciate Representative Carter’s position to remove barriers that lead to staffing shortages," said Temple ISD Superintendent Dr. Bobby Ott. "This bill is another step in ensuring educational access for some of our most vulnerable populations. This type of legislation reminds us that our children are the real customers, and not unnecessary bureaucratic measures
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