HR7169-119

What This Bill Does

The Understanding Basic English Requirements Act of 2026, or UBER Act, sets driver conditions for federal executive-agency contracts or agreements with transportation network companies and shared-use mobility companies. Executive agencies may not award contracts for services in the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii unless every contract driver is at least 21 years old, can read and speak English well enough to converse with the public, law enforcement, and officials, understand highway signs, respond to official inquiries, and make report and record entries, can safely operate the vehicle by experience or training, has a current valid driver's license issued by only one State or jurisdiction, and has passed a road test. Deaf or hearing-impaired drivers who use American Sign Language are exempt from the English-proficiency requirement. Ride-share companies, taxi companies, shuttle companies, and other shared-use mobility companies must certify to the agency head that all contract drivers meet the standards. A company found out of compliance is debarred from federal contracts for five years. The bill defines executive agency, shared-use mobility company, and transportation network company.

Who Benefits and How

Executive agencies buying ride-share, taxi, shuttle, bikeshare, scooter-share, ridesourcing, or other shared-use mobility services benefit from uniform driver eligibility certifications. Federal employees and passengers using contracted services may benefit from minimum age, licensing, road-test, safe-operation, and communication standards. Contract drivers who meet the standards may benefit from a clearer path to federal contract work. Deaf or hearing-impaired drivers who use American Sign Language benefit from an explicit exception to the English-proficiency requirement. Federal contracting officers benefit from an enforceable certification and debarment rule.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Transportation network companies, shared-use mobility companies, ride-share companies, taxi operators, shuttle services, contract drivers, and mobility-platform compliance staff must verify driver age, English proficiency where applicable, driving ability, single-jurisdiction licensing, and road-test completion before federal contract work. Companies face five-year debarment for noncompliance. Limited-English drivers who do not qualify for the ASL exception may lose federal contract opportunities. Federal contracting officers and executive-agency procurement staff must review certifications and enforce eligibility.

Key Provisions

• Requires federal ride-share and shared-use mobility contract drivers to be at least 21 years old.
• Requires contract drivers to meet English reading and speaking standards for public, law-enforcement, official, sign, inquiry, and record interactions.
• Provides an American Sign Language exception for deaf or hearing-impaired drivers.
• Requires drivers to be safely trained or experienced, hold one valid driver's license, and pass a road test.
• Requires transportation network and shared-use mobility companies to certify driver compliance to agency heads.
• Debars noncompliant companies from federal contracts for five years.