Press Release

April 21, 2021

ELPC Applauds $25 Billion Federal Legislation for Electric School Buses

We also thank President Biden and Vice President Harris for their support to fund clean school buses. The 25 million U.S. children who ride on school buses deserve a clean, healthy ride.

Statement by Susan Mudd, Senior Policy Advocate 

“Today, the Environmental Law & Policy Center applauds the introduction of the Clean Commute for Kids Act in the U.S. Senate and House. This bill will provide $25 billion in funding for electric school buses. ELPC thanks the bill’s co-sponsors Senators Alex Padilla and Raphael Warnock and Representatives Tony Cardenas and Jahana Hayes for leading to help America’s school kids have clean rides to school.  

“This significant federal support for zero-emission school buses can speed up replacing half of America’s dirty diesel buses, helping children and their communities breathe cleaner air while fighting climate change. The 25 million U.S. children who ride on school buses deserve a clean, healthy ride. 

“ELPC also thanks President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for shining a spotlight on companies helping to make the transition to clean rides for kids possible. We welcome Vice President Harris’ visit to electric school bus manufacturer Thomas Built Buses this week, and for her continued support for EV school buses since first introducing legislation for clean school bus funding in Congress last year as a senator. We’re also thrilled to see President Biden take a virtual tour of Proterra – another company making clean buses. The Biden-Harris administration included $20 billion in the American Jobs Plan for zero-emission school buses.  

“We’re pleased to see growing support for and significant investment in electric school buses. In the last two years more than 30 clean school buses have begun operating across the Midwest, taking students to and from school, delivering food during the pandemic, and doing so successfully during cold winter weather. ELPC has been advocating for electric school buses for several years and working with midwestern school districts and other stakeholders to secure financing for these buses from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust and other sources.”