Trucking Industry Recognizes Fischer, Padilla, Pappas, and Edwards for Supporting Veterans

Washington - The American Trucking Associations' Trucking Cares Foundation honored four Members of Congress whose leadership has helped veterans launch careers in the trucking industry.

In a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Chuck Edwards (R-NC) received TCF's 2025 Congressional Hero Awards for championing the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023.

"Senators Fischer and Padilla and Representatives Pappas and Edwards are outstanding advocates for veterans," said TCF Chairman Greg Owen, head coach of Ability Tri-Modal. "The legislation they successfully passed last Congress was a win-win for members of the armed forces and our supply chain. Thanks to the law that they authored, more of our nation's heroes are able to receive the training they need to obtain high-paying careers in the trucking industry after they have completed their military service. At the same time, their law is expanding the trucking industry's access to this exceptional pool of talent. We applaud these lawmakers for their unwavering support of veterans, a worthy cause that aligns with the mission of the Trucking Cares Foundation."

"During their military service, veterans become familiar operating in and around large vehicles and equipment, skills that can ease their transition to driving a commercial truck," said TCF President John Lynch, ATA's Senior VP of Federation Relations. "Trucking companies especially value the traits that individuals develop via their military service, including discipline, independence, situational awareness, adaptability, and reliability. The Trucking Cares Foundation commends these lawmakers for championing the Veterans Improvement Commercial Driver License Act, which helps former servicemembers, particularly from rural areas, accelerate their transition to their next career, while at the same time expanding the pool of safe and qualified drivers and bolstering the nation's supply chain."

"The trucking industry is proud to recognize Senators Fischer and Padilla and Representatives Pappas and Edwards for their leadership role in opening the door of opportunity to veterans seeking good-paying, high-quality jobs in the trucking industry," said ATA President & CEO Chris Spear. "When these brave men and women return home, the last thing they should have to worry about is red tape preventing them from achieving the American dream that they fought to defend. The Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023 is a commonsense law that is expanding veterans' access to CDL programs and helping them to build rewarding careers."

Prior to the enactment of the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023, if an approved trucking school opened a secondary facility in a new location, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and state regulators were obligated to deny the branch's ability to receive GI benefits for two years. The law removed this arbitrary roadblock by allowing veterans to use their GI Bill benefits at new branches of commercial driver training schools immediately, provided the primary institutions have already been approved by the VA and State Approving Agencies to receive GI benefits.

About the Honorees:

Senator Deb Fischer. Senator Fischer serves on multiple committees, notably the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation and Armed Services Committees. She is well versed on issues related to our military veterans as well as the trucking industry and is a steadfast proponent of investing and modernizing our highway infrastructure and securing our nation's supply chain.

Senator Alex Padilla. Representing California, Senator Padilla's state is home to North America's largest ports and 1.8 million veterans, the most of any state. Senator Padilla has focused on initiatives to meet the needs of our veterans, and the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act will help increase the number of well-trained, qualified commercial truck drivers.

Representative Chris Pappas. Serving on the House Transportation & Infrastructure and Veterans Affairs Committees, Representative Pappas has proven to be a major champion of veteran causes. He has now sponsored well over 20 bills to ensure proper VA funding for physical and mental health care of veterans and their families as well as advanced career training. He has also led efforts to end the fentanyl crisis, a priority shared by TCF.

Representative Chuck Edwards. Representative Edwards is a dedicated advocate for America's veterans and their families through initiatives related to improving mental health services, ensuring the VA is properly funded, and helping to ease the transition of veterans into new careers. He represents western North Carolina, which was hit hard by Hurricane Helene in 2024. TCF helped support those recovery efforts.