Democrats push for $25bn bill to electrify school buses under Biden's infrastructure plan

Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday pushed for $25 billion legislation to convert gasoline and diesel-powered school buses across US to electric vehicles for betterment of  health of children. Introduced by Senator Alex Padilla, D-Calif., bill for electrification of school buses, that commute nearly 25 million children and makeup 90 percent of US total bus fleet, was presented as essential to climate change and ecomic inequalities, according to Associated Press. $25 billion legislation was a component under US President Joe Biden’s ambitious $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan kwn as American Jobs Plan which he unveiled last month. scheme aims to upgrade buildings across United States, install electric vehicle stations, broadband, improve internet connectivity, do big infrastructure fixes, and advance electricity generation. 

On Monday, Democrats sought to authorize federal grant money for funding legislation to electrify buses across 10 years, saying that diesel vehicles cause respiratory illnesses among kids, which can be subsequently linked to poor academic performance. As many as 40 percent of Dems voted for replacement of buses that transport children for Black underprivileged and poor communities. lawmakers argued that bill would cover costs for an electrical bus conversion, installation of charging stations, and providing workforce training, as well as provisions for reaching out to Environmental Protection ncy directly for school districts to seek assistance in transition. 

“I kw firsthand how outdated diesel school buses expose our children to harmful and unnecessary pollution,” Sen. Padilla told Associated Press, stressing that school kids used bus travel more frequently to reach ir classes and after school field games.

“Growing up in San Fernando Valley, my lungs would be filled with diesel exhaust by time I arrived at school each day,” he continued. Furrmore, Dem senator said, “Transitioning our school bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles is an essential aspect of building equitable, sustainable infrastructure and is a wise investment in our children, our environment and our future.” 

To convert 500,000 school buses to electrical

Sen. Raphael Warck, D-Ga., and Reps. Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif., and Jahana Hayes, D-Conn backed bill, saying kids across Georgia and all of America should be able to get to and from school without breathing polluted air. “ Clean Commute for Kids Act will help keep our students safe,” Warck said adding that COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated respiratory issues among young kids, which is worsened by diesel buses. push for legislation comes as both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted ir goals of implementation of  $45 billion in an infrastructure bill. US Vice President also visited a rth Carolina bus manufacturing plant, as she urged that Biden administration was determined to convert at least 500,000 school buses to electrical as a part of clean energy investments. Biden will also retrofit more than a million affordable, resilient, accessible, energy-efficient, and electrified housing units.