Following the announcement of Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Sherrod Brown’s Clean Transit for America plan, Evergreen Executive Director Jamal Raad released the following statement:
“While their Republican colleagues are floating bogus infrastructure proposals that would cut transit funding, Senators Schumer and Brown have shown us what real leadership for America’s public transit looks like. The Clean Transit for America plan will be a catalyst for electrifying the transportation sector and ensuring that communities across the country are breathing cleaner air by putting us on the path to 100% clean buses as soon as 2030. It will also help grow domestic manufacturing industries that support good-paying American jobs.
“We can’t afford to wait to invest in the clean transportation infrastructure we need to eliminate carbon emissions and reduce toxic air pollution. Millions of Americans rely on buses to get around—electrifying this low-cost transportation option will not only help us ensure a livable climate, but will also be hugely beneficial to bus riders and the surrounding communities. We commend Senators Schumer and Brown for this smart and necessary proposal and look forward to their continued leadership as we build a 100% clean public transit system for all Americans.”
The Evergreen Action Plan called for a significant increase in federal investments in public transit, including using federal financing to achieve 100% clean buses by 2030. The Clean Transit for America plan would authorize $73 billion for procurement and deployment of zero emissions buses. And as called for in the Evergreen Action Plan, the Clean Transit for American plan enshrines strong labor protections for transit workers and prioritizes funding for areas with the poorest air quality—ensuring that the communities with the greatest need will be the first to benefit.