On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) introduced the Understanding Basic English Requirements (UBER) Act.
The legislation, according to Tuberville, would keep individuals who cannot read and/or speak English from becoming drivers for rideshare companies.
Under the UBER Act, government agencies would be prohibited from awarding a contract or agreement to rideshare platforms with drivers who cannot read or speak English sufficiently. Noncompliant platforms would be debarred from receiving federal contracts for five years.
The change would also align platforms' hiring standards with all federal Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) requirements.
Tuberville spoke to reporters shortly before filing the legislation.
"English is our national language. If you want to come here, you should be able to speak and read English," Tuberville said. "This is just common sense."
"[An] overlooked area that has recently been brought to our attention is the rideshare industry. Rideshare services such as Lyft or Uber are frequently used in large cities, especially college towns, so today I am introducing the Understanding Basic English Requirements Act, or better known as the UBER Act," Tuberville continued.
"My bill would require rideshare drivers to meet basic English proficiency standards. If you're driving on our roads, you have to be able to read our road signs. If ride share companies choose not to comply, they will face the consequences, including being disbarred from receiving federal contracts for five years," he added.
In a separate statement, the senator argued that rideshare companies must thoroughly vet drivers prior to hiring them.
"Too many Americans have been killed as a result of relaxed standards and illegal immigrants who do not speak or read English and are driving on our roads," Tuberville explained. "Rideshare companies, especially those that receive taxpayer funding, have an obligation to vet the drivers who are transporting American citizens on our roads."
"I’m proud to introduce this legislation as another guardrail to keep Americans safe on the road," Tuberville concluded.
The Understanding Basic English Requirements Act would specifically:
- Prohibit government agencies from awarding a contract or agreement to rideshare platforms with drivers who cannot read or speak English sufficiently.
- Ensure compliant platforms’ drivers are able to:
- Converse with the general public and law enforcement officials in English.
- Understand American highway traffic signs.
- Respond to official inquiries in English.
- Make entries on reports and records in English.
- Ban noncompliant companies from receiving federal contracts for a five-year period.
- Require that rideshare platforms and their drivers comply with the same federal standards as CDL drivers.
Last month, Tuberville also introduced the Secure Commercial Licensing Act, which would require all CDL testing to only be conducted in English, following recent accidents involving commercial truck drivers who are not proficient in English.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every day.
