June 18, 2023. U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced legislation to expand rural communities’ access to clean school buses. Studies have shown that pollution levels in the cabin of existing diesel school buses are 12 times higher than outdoors. This legislation will protect rural students from these harmful diesel emissions by supporting the installation of the infrastructure needed to support rural schools’ clean bus fleets.
Specifically, this bill will codify the eligibility of clean school bus infrastructure under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grant Program. This codification will increase rural schools’ confidence when applying for the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program and other similar initiatives, and ensure that USDA maintains clean school bus infrastructure as a program priority year-over-year.
“Aside from the classroom, students in rural communities spend a large amount of their time commuting to and from school on buses that release harmful emissions. In fact, studies have shown that pollution levels in common school buses can be much worse than it is outside,” said Luján. “To address this, the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program has provided clean school buses to communities in New Mexico and across the country, but more investments are needed to continue protecting students. I’m proud to introduce this legislation that will help expand rural communities’ access to clean buses by supporting the development and installation of much-needed clean bus infrastructure.”
“All children deserve to travel to and from school safely. Unfortunately, millions of kids are still riding diesel school buses, putting their health at risk. Demand for clean, zero-emission school buses is increasing, thanks in part to federal investments, and ensuring that rural communities can access funding for the infrastructure to charge them will help accelerate the transition to healthier transportation options that protect kids’ health,” said Harold Wimmer, National President and CEO for the American Lung Association.