Washington, D.C. — Today, Reps. Jahana Hayes (D-CT) and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) and Sens. Alex Padilla (CA) and Raphael Warnock (GA) introduced the Clean Commute for Kids Act, a forward-looking bill that would authorize an investment of $25 billion to rapidly transition almost a third of the nation’s school bus fleet to clean, electric buses over eight years, prioritizing grants to school districts serving communities with unhealthy air pollution and lower incomes.
“After years of parents, students, and advocates organizing for a clean ride for kids, we are excited to work with Congress to pass funding to bring more electric school buses to communities throughout the country,” said Chispa National Director Johana Vicente. “Investing $25 billion to help 25 million children riding school buses breathe cleaner air in the formative years when their lungs are developing will make a big difference in their lives. Directing significant portions of this funding to low-income communities of color, who face the worst effects of environmental pollution, will ensure that we are addressing the needs of impacted communities first. This is the bold investment that we need to accelerate the transition of the nation’s fleet from dirty, diesel-fueled school buses to zero-emission, electric school buses.”
“We applaud Representatives Cardenas and Hayes and Senators Padilla and Warnock for their deep commitment to advancing the manufacture and adoption of zero-emission school buses,” said LCV Government Affairs Advocate Darien Davis. “Their proposal, which complements school bus pieces outlined in the American Jobs Plan, would create millions of good-paying union jobs. With a $25 billion investment in electric school buses, children across the country can breathe easier as they return back to in-person learning.”
Today’s standalone bill introduction builds on the related provision Rep. Hayes and Cardenas included in the House’s CLEAN Future Act of 2021. Chispa and members of the national Electric School Bus (ESB) Coalition praised the electric school bus provision in the CLEAN Future Act earlier this year.
