Once again, this year, Massachusetts lawmakers will take up the Safe Driving Bill, H.2985 (Rep.Farley-Bouvier, Sen.Jehlen). The last time was in June 2014 when the Joint Committee on Transportation voted to send the measure to study thereby dashing hopes for its passage in 2014. This year twice as many legislators support the new Bill compared to 2014.

The Irish International Immigrant Center is mounting a huge campaign to get support from our communities in order to get this Bill passed. The Bill will greatly benefit thousands of Irish immigrant families in Massachusetts who need to be able to drive their children to school, to doctor appointments and to get to work.

Legislators need to know that the Irish community considers this Bill to be a priority. It is very important to have as many Irish organizations and individuals, and all communities in Massachusetts support this Bill and, more importantly, to make that support known to our elected officials.

The Irish International Immigrant Center is a member of the Safe Driving Coalition, a grassroots coalition of community, faith, business, and labor organizations. We contributed to the Bill’s authorship as well as the Coalition's strategic planning. The IIIC stands shoulder to shoulder with many other immigrant communities to push this Bill forward.

Our neighbors Vermont and Connecticut, as well as Washington, California, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Hawaii, Delaware, and Washington D.C and Puerto Rico require that all resident drivers are trained, licensed and insured. These states issue driver's licenses to all state residents, including immigrants with all kinds of immigration statuses.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center released a report in July stating that "allowing immigrants to get driver's licenses could bring in an estimated 90,000 new clients and about $7.2 million in gross new revenue from permit and license fees". It would also reduce the drain on law enforcement and the court system.

Public safety ought to be the paramount importance when considering this Bill. No one would like to be in an accident with an uninsured driver. By removing immigration status as barrier to applying for a license, or a learners permit, the Safe Driving Bill would enable all Massachusetts residents to become trained, licensed and ensured. This bill makes complete sense for the greater good and public safety of all Massachusetts residents.

The time is now to put this debate in the rear view mirror. Please take a minute to support this Bill and sign this petition. Thank you