Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Reauthorize Clean School Bus Program

On October 9, 2026, members of the Alliance for Electric School Buses (AESB) expressed their support for a bipartisan bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Buddy Carter (GA-1), and Greg Landsman (OH-01). This legislation seeks to reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program for an additional five years, extending its funding through Fiscal Year 2031.

The Clean School Bus Program, established by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, has already allocated $2.6 billion to over 1,100 school districts across 49 states and various Tribes and territories. This funding has enabled the replacement of traditional school buses with more than 8,000 new low- or zero-emission buses, significantly reducing pollution and improving air quality for students.

The AESB, which consists of a diverse coalition of nonprofit organizations, emphasizes the importance of electric school buses in promoting student health and well-being. The coalition includes notable groups such as the Sierra Club, Chispa, Earthjustice Action, and the League of Conservation Voters, among others. In a joint statement, they highlighted the crucial role of clean school buses in safeguarding children's health, particularly for those in overburdened communities who are disproportionately affected by pollution.

The statement noted, "Investing in clean school buses means investing in our nation’s children — in their ability to get to and from school without breathing in diesel fumes that trigger asthma attacks, harm brain development, lower test scores, and cause school absences."

Electric school buses not only offer environmental benefits but also provide operational advantages. They can lower overall costs for school districts and utilize vehicle-to-grid technology (V2G) to return energy to the grid, potentially reducing energy costs for communities. The quiet and smooth operation of electric buses has also been shown to improve student behavior, especially for those with special needs, creating a calmer school environment.

The popularity of the Clean School Bus Program has led to overwhelming demand, with school districts requesting over $7.7 billion to modernize their fleets. The EPA has responded to this demand by nearly doubling the funding available for each application round, yet the need for clean buses continues to exceed available resources.

The AESB praised the bipartisan efforts of Representatives Hayes, Carter, and Landsman, urging Congress to reauthorize the Clean School Bus Program. They believe that continued investment in this initiative is essential for enhancing air quality and promoting healthier learning environments for children nationwide.

The Clean School Bus Program represents a significant step towards transitioning the nation’s school bus fleet to electric models, which is crucial for addressing environmental justice and equity issues. The AESB coalition, which includes over two dozen environmental, equity, community, and labor organizations, is committed to ensuring that all children breathe clean air as they travel to and from school.

As the legislative process moves forward, the AESB and its partners remain hopeful that Congress will act swiftly to reauthorize this vital program, which has already proven its effectiveness in improving public health and reducing carbon emissions across the United States.