Mission Committee - October 2025

Driving PA Forward

One of the projects of our Mission committee is to support the immigrants in Pennsylvania. Since 2020 we have been working on a project known as Driving PA Forward. We have worked with an interfaith Committee to try to get driver’s licenses for all immigrants in Pennsylvania.

We took that same legislation to the Pittsburgh Presbytery in 2021 which also passed support for that legislation.

Currently a new bill has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House, HB 1518. This bill would enable an immigrant with a worker’s ID to get a driver’s license. Currently a campaign is ongoing to get the Governor’s support.

HB 1518 will improve the safety of all Pennsylvanians in three ways

Safety on the Roads

Keeping roads safer, economies healthy, and families together.

➢ From policymakers to law enforcement, from farmers to faith communities, there is consensus that roads and communities are safer when everyone behind the wheel has a license, insurance, and identification. It is necessary to encourage all drivers in PA to obtain: Accessible driving licenses and valid identification.

A standard (Non-Real ID) Driver’s License is required for:

➢ Valid Identification

➢ Proof of Insurance

➢ Adequate knowledge of the rules and responsibilities of the road

Economic Impact

The first year of enacting the proposed legislation could see between $2.76 M to $4.14 M in revenue from licensing fees alone with a possible $2.36 to 3.54 M in subsequent years, far outpacing the cost of implementation

Despite the smaller immigrant population, Pennsylvania could expect a $13 million increase in revenue from taxes, registration fees, license fees, and vehicle-related purchases in the first three years after implementation. This includes annual increases in sales tax and one-time license fees that would be renewed once the license expires. Every 4 years an additional $30.50 in renewal fees would be charged to the applicant, who is not included in the total estimation since we are looking at licenses issued within the first three years of expansion.

Safeguard our Privacy

The bill would add a host of crucial protections for driver data, including safeguards around sharing personal information. Pennsylvania needs a common- sense approach to processing identification documents without indefinitely retaining private documents and making PA residents vulnerable to having their information used without their consent.

What You Can Do to Help

➢ Call or text Governor Shapiro

➢ Go to the website www. Driving PA Forward and it will give you both a phone or text message you can send to the Governor

➢ If you have any questions, you can contact Linda James at lindaleejames.72@gmail.com