The Clean Transit for America Plan unveiled to Senate

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer joined with Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chair Sherrod Brown brought forth The Clean Transit for America Plan which would invest $73 billion in electrifying public transit. 

“Too many buses spew dirty diesel. That hurts the workers, that hurts the commuters, that hurts everyone,” says Schumer. 

According to Common Dreams, the plan is intended to not only combat the climate emergency and improve air quality with zero-emission fleets, but also establish a workforce training program that will create well-paying union jobs. Schumer said he intends to ensure it is included in the American Jobs Plan, part of President Joe Biden’s recently introduced infrastructure proposal.

Today @SenSherrodBrown and I are introducing our Clean Transit for America plan to replace dirty diesel buses with zero-emission fleets

It will create jobs, reduce deadly pollution, & beat back climate change

I’ll work with President Biden to include it in the #AmericanJobsPlan

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 4, 2021

“Today, there are approximately 70,000 mass transit buses and 85,000 cutaway vehicles and transit vans in America. Approximately 2% of those buses are zero-emission vehicles. The federal government can and should be in the business of aiding transit agencies in shifting their bus fleets to zero emissions,” said the senators in a summary.

Initiators Senators Schumer and Brown must now build support and introduce the Clean Transit proposal in the Senate and House. From there, it is a way through Committees before the bill may eventually be put in front of the full chamber to vote, reports Electrive.com. 

Many green groups, like the Sierra Club, and union leaders support this plan. 

The Clean Transit for America plan to shift to 100% electric buses means healthier communities and a healthier economy.

✅ Environmental justice
✅ Climate action
✅ Good, family-sustaining jobs in the U.S.

Thank you @SenSchumer and @SenSherrodBrown! pic.twitter.com/li35q0NXaz

— Sierra Club (@SierraClub) May 4, 2021