Federal ride-share rules could lock out immigrant drivers
H.R. 7169 — UBER Act · Filed by Josh Brecheen (R-OK) · 3 cosponsors · Introduced Jan 21, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill requires that any transportation network company (like Uber or Lyft) or shared-use mobility company receiving federal contracts must ensure all their drivers meet specific requirements: be at least 21, speak English well enough to communicate with the public and law enforcement, understand traffic signs, have a valid driver's license, and pass a road test. Companies that fail to certify compliance face a 5-year ban from federal contracts. The bill exempts deaf or hearing-impaired drivers who use American Sign Language.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to establish minimum driver qualifications (age, English proficiency, licensing, road test) as a condition for federal contracts with transportation network companies. It is regulatory/standards-setting legislation, not a tax measure or appropriation.
What the text implies
- English-proficiency requirement may disproportionately exclude immigrant drivers and could reduce labor supply in ride-share markets, potentially raising consumer costs or reducing service availability in certain regions.
- The 5-year debarment penalty is severe and applies to the entire company, not individual drivers, creating strong incentive for companies to over-screen or exclude drivers based on language ability rather than actual safety risk.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Established ride-share platforms with existing compliance infrastructure; Driver-training and certification service providers; Companies specializing in English-language proficiency testing