[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 189 (Thursday, December 19, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S7242]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Warnock):
  S. 5625. A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize 
the Clean School Bus program, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Clean 
Commute for Kids Act of 2024, which I introduced today.
  Growing up in the San Fernando Valley, I still recall the diesel 
exhaust that my classmates and I inhaled each day on our way to school. 
Unfortunately, this is still a reality for nearly 25 million American 
children who ride more than 400,000 diesel-powered buses to school. 
These vehicles expose our children to harmful pollutants that impact 
not just their health but also their academic performance.
  As we continue our efforts to combat climate change and build more 
sustainable infrastructure, we must simultaneously prioritize reducing 
children's exposure to these harmful emissions by accelerating the 
deployment of zero-emission buses.
  That is why I am reintroducing the Clean Commute for Kids Act, which 
builds on the successful Clean School Bus Program that I was proud to 
champion as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law. This program is 
already delivering impactful results, having awarded nearly $3 billion 
to fund the replacement of approximately 8,700 diesel buses across the 
country, with many more on the way.
  This legislation offers improvements to streamline the process for 
school districts to apply for the program, promotes good-paying 
schoolbus manufacturing jobs, and authorizes an additional $22 billion 
to further support the replacement of aging diesel buses with zero-
emission fleets. By doing so, we can continue to cut greenhouse gas 
emissions, improve air quality, and safeguard the health of our 
children for generations to come.
  As we know, investing in zero-emission schoolbuses is not just about 
reducing pollution--it is about investing in our children, their 
health, and their future. I am grateful to Senator Warnock for co-
leading this effort with me in the Senate, and I thank my good friend 
Representative Cardenas for championing this legislation in the House 
before his retirement.

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