Senator Murray Announces Initial $500 Million for the Clean School Bus Program Her Bill Established   

An initial $500 million in funding for the Clean School Bus initiative created by Senator Murray is now available to communities in Washington state and across the country

Applications open TODAY and close August 19th, 2022. Apply HERE.

ICYMI: Infrastructure Package Includes Senator Murray’s Clean School Bus Act – MORE HERE

Senator Murray: “If we want to ensure a brighter future for our children, we need to invest in zero-emission transportation.”

(Seattle, WA) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced an initial $500 million in available funding for the Clean School Bus program she helped create. The Clean School Bus program is funded through $5 billion dedicated to zero emission and clean American-made buses as a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and specifically Senator Murray’s Clean School Bus Act. Applications for the first round of funding open today and will close on August 19, 2022. Senator Murray urges all eligible applicants to apply here.

“I fought hard to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which included my Clean School Bus Act, because investing in clean school buses will protect the health of our students and the future of our planet. If we want to tackle the climate crisis and ensure a brighter future for our children, we need to invest in zero-emission transportation in a big way—and this is a good start,” said Senator Murray. “With these rebates, we are getting money out the door and into school districts as quickly as we can. I urge every eligible school district in Washington state and across the country to apply.”

Every day, more than 25 million children and thousands of bus drivers breathe polluted air during their commute to school, which has a negative impact on students’ health and academic performance, particularly for students with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Further, transportation accounts for the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. With approximately 500,000 school buses on the road traveling over 3 billion miles per year, this investment will assist school districts in transitioning to cleaner buses and lower emissions nationwide. The legislation comes as school districts across Washington state are committing to electrifying their school bus fleets.

The BIL invests $5 billion over five years for the replacement of existing school buses with clean school buses and zero-emission school buses. The first funding opportunity under this program is the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, nonprofit school transportation associations, Indian tribes, and eligible contractors. The program will prioritize high-need school districts, rural school districts, and tribal school districts. Applicants can apply here.

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