Kiggans, Pappas Introduce Bill to Increase Access to Trucking Apprenticeship Programs for Veterans

WASHINGTON, DC: Last week, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01), both members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC), introduced the Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act. This bipartisan legislation would cut red tape for veterans looking to get jobs in the trucking industry by streamlining the approval of certain apprenticeship programs partnered with the VA. 

Currently, interstate trucking companies must get approval from every state they operate in for veterans to use their VA education benefits for their apprenticeship programs. The VA has reported that some companies are opting out of offering apprenticeships to veterans altogether due to the bureaucratic hurdles of having to gain approval from over 20 different states. This comes at a time when the trucking industry has a shortage of over 80,000 drivers. The Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act would address this problem by allowing interstate commercial carriers to get one singular approval for all of their apprenticeship programs from the VA, making it easier for veterans to access trucking apprenticeship programs.

“We owe it to our nation’s heroes to ensure they have the tools they need to make the often-difficult transition from service to civilian life,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “That is exactly what this commonsense legislation will do by cutting bureaucratic red tape and increasing access to trucking apprenticeships for our veterans. As a former Navy helicopter pilot and the representative for Coastal Virginia, which is home to so many who have served our country, it is an honor to advocate for bipartisan policies that help our veterans secure meaningful employment while also addressing the national trucking shortage and strengthening our supply chains.”

“It’s unacceptable that veterans are losing employment opportunities due to unnecessary and redundant bureaucratic hurdles. Cutting this red tape so trucking companies can employ more veterans as truck drivers is a common-sense step that will increase opportunities for veterans as well as help address the trucking shortage,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’m pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Kiggans that will streamline the approval process for interstate trucking company’s apprenticeship programs to partner with the VA, ease the pathway for veterans to become truck drivers, and support the trucking industry.”

“When members of the military return home after serving our country, we have an obligation to help them obtain rewarding careers and achieve the American Dream they fought to protect,” said American Trucking Associations Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom. “We commend Representatives Pappas and Kiggans for introducing this commonsense solution that would make it easier to stand up apprenticeship programs for our nation’s veterans, expanding access to good-paying jobs in the trucking industry and strengthening our supply chain. We look forward to working with Congress to enact this commonsense reform into law.”

This bipartisan legislation is endorsed by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and the American Trucking Association. You can read the full bill text here.

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