Missouri Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moves forward with Dalilah’s Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KQTV) -- The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06), will take up Dalilah's Law, a measure to strengthen Commercial Driver's License requirements in the United States.

The Law aims to ensure commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers are properly trained and meet safety standards. It would require CMV drivers to be able to read and understand the English language.

It would also prevent "unqualified and illegal immigrants that could pose a significant safety hazard from obtaining a CDL through lax enforcement by states," according to a news release.

The legislation was introduced by Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC).

Dalilah's Law is named in honor of Dalilah Coleman, a 5-year-old girl who was struck and severely injured by a semi-truck driver who was living in the country illegally, according to the release.

Dalilah was a guest at President Trump's State of the Union address, where the President called for Congress to pass a law to block "illegal and unqualified" immigrants from obtaining a CDL in the United States.

"Let me be clear- this is a safety issue. If you can't speak and read English, or if you're not properly trained to drive a semi down our highways, you've got no business holding a CDL in the United States. Furthermore, we need to strengthen the laws related to issuing CDLs and ensure that states are following and enforcing those laws and requirements," Graves said.

Graves said, "Dalilah's Law is a commonsense piece of legislation that achieves those goals and strongly supports the efforts of the Trump Administration to make our roads safer."

"Commercial driver's license standards are in place for a reason: to ensure that only those qualified to drive a truck are allowed to do so. Dalilah's story is the heartbreaking consequence of what happens when those standards are both insufficient and breached," said Rouzer.

House Resolution 5688 was first introduced by Rouzer on Oct. 3, 2025, as the "Non-Domiciled CDL Integrity Act," to end the issuance of CDLs to those living in the country illegally, and who may lack the English proficiency, road-rule knowledge and safety skills needed to operate CMVs.