FILE – Vice President Kamala Harris shares a laugh with EPA Administrator Michael Regan during a tour of electric school buses at Meridian High School in Falls Church, Va., on May 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File). Img source: cnycentral.com/
May 31, 2024 Story by: Editor
WASHINGTON — This week, the Biden-Harris Administration revealed nearly $900 million in funding for the Clean School Buses initiative as part of President Biden’s ‘Investing in America’ agenda. This initiative focuses on aiding disadvantaged and overly polluted communities.
On Wednesday, NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson, Congressman Bennie Thompson, and the Jackson Public School District welcomed EPA Administrator Michael Regan to Jackson, MS, to showcase the district’s new electric school buses. President Johnson remarked on the occasion:
“Our children are the future. The sad reality is, the growing threats posed by the climate crisis have placed that future in jeopardy. Let’s be clear – fossil fuels must be phased out. The NAACP applauds the Biden-Harris administration for their continued commitment to investing in clean energy solutions that benefit all Americans. We remain determined to advocate for innovative solutions to the most pressing issues plaguing our community. Together, we will make clean energy a reality for all.” Source: NAACP
Black youth are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, toxic air, water pollution, and other environmental injustices. The Biden Administration’s announcement of clean school buses in Jackson, Mississippi, along with the additional $900 million, marks significant progress in addressing the needs of historically excluded communities.
“The NAACP recognizes this bold step on behalf of the EPA to ensure children from disadvantaged and excluded communities are prioritized with the air they breathe,” stated Abre’ Conner, NAACP Director of Environmental and Climate Justice. “Now is the time to ensure Black youth are not left out of mass transit and clean air conversations. It is critical that we prioritize having clean school buses in Black school districts and it remains our hope that President Biden and Administrator Regan will center the needs of Black children in these additional environmental and transportation funding conversations.”
The NAACP has consistently championed the Clean School Buses initiative. The organization’s units nationwide have collaborated to electrify school bus fleets in over 15 states, including Mississippi. Through community engagement and mobilization, grassroots advocates continue to ensure their districts obtain the necessary resources to implement Clean School Buses for all.
For photos from the event, visit this link.
