NGT News
April 23, 2021
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., and Rep. Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif., and Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., have introduced the Clean Commute for Kids Act to transition the nation’s school bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and protect children’s health.
The bicameral legislation would invest $25 billion to replace existing diesel buses with electric buses. On a typical day before the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 25 million American children are exposed to air pollution when they ride over 500,000 predominantly diesel buses to school.
“Providing a quality education for children starts before they even arrive at school,” says Padilla. “I know firsthand how outdated diesel school buses expose our young people to harmful pollution. Children in working-class communities – like the one I grew up in – face higher rates of asthma and respiratory issues, which have a direct impact on their ability to learn. Transitioning our school bus fleet to ZEVs is an essential aspect of building equitable, sustainable infrastructure and is a wise investment in our children, our environment and our future.”