OOIDA demands Congress act now to tighten CDL standards after Pennsylvania trooper’s death

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) called on Congress to act immediately to tighten non-domiciled commercial driver’s license (CDL) standards in response to the death of a Pennsylvania State Police trooper.

In a July 15 letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, the trucking trade group urged lawmakers to schedule an “immediate” vote on H.R. 5688, or Dalilah’s Law.

Dalilah’s Law would strengthen citizenship and English language requirements for CDL drivers, codifying previous efforts made by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to impose stricter standards for truck drivers.

The group pointed to the July 1 death of Trooper Michael Pahira Jr., who was fatally struck by a semi truck while conducting a commercial vehicle inspection on I-81.

OOIDA noted that “the driver had been operating in the United States illegally after his immigration parole status was terminated, yet he still held a valid non-domiciled CDL from Massachusetts.”

Truck driver Michael Bon, 33, faces several charges, including felony vehicular homicide and felony vehicular aggravated assault, in the death of Trooper Pahira.

“Trooper Pahira’s death is a devastating reminder that our current CDL system lacks the safeguards needed to keep unqualified and unvetted drivers off the road. Had this legislation been previously signed into law, the driver responsible for Trooper Pahira’s death would not have been eligible to receive a CDL in the first place,” wrote OOIDA President Todd Spencer.

More action is needed from Congress, OOIDA argued, because of “significant safety and screening shortcomings” with the non-domiciled CDL issuance process by states.

“For example, states have been unable to meet their regulatory obligations to thoroughly screen CDL applicants, such as a requirement to review 10 years of driving history for all motor vehicles when a driver’s records are in a foreign country,” Spencer said.

“We respectfully ask that you bring Dalilah’s Law to the floor for a vote without further delay. The safety of America’s truckers, law enforcement officers, and the motoring public should not be a partisan issue, and it should not wait any longer,” the letter concluded.

Dalilah’s Law was approved by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure by a vote of 35-26 in March 2026.