**For IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Contact: Emilia.Rowland@mail.house.gov – 330.212.2065

 Rep. Summer Lee, Moms Clean Air Force, PFT, Pittsburgh School District Parents to Host Press Conference on Impact of 45 New Electric Buses from EPA Clean School Bus Rebate Program Ahead of Extended 2/14 Grant Deadline

PITTSBURGH, PA — TODAY, Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) HOSTED a press conference announcing the new $40 million federal grant awarded to First Student to buy 100 electric school buses to dramatically improve air quality in and around schools, advance environmental justice, and combat climate change statewide. Of the 100 electric buses, 45 will be given to the Pittsburgh School District. The speakers will detail the direct impact of the clean buses students’ health and raise awareness of the deadline for Pittsburgh schools to apply for funding, recently extended to Wednesday, February 14th at 4PM ET so that more Pittsburgh schools are able to improve student health by transitioning from diesel buses to electric school buses – each one of which will remove 23 tons of greenhouse gas every year. The press conference will be held in front, and followed by a walkthrough of, one of the new electric school buses.

You can watch the full event here.

“Every diesel-powered school bus we replace will make a difference: one electric school bus means removing 23 tons of greenhouse gases every year. That means the 45 school buses we’re bringing to Pittsburgh School District will take 1,035 tons of greenhouse gases out of our air. That could mean fewer kids with asthma, better air quality for our region, and the safety of knowing that our kids are getting to school safely without breathing toxic fumes” said Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12). “My team is continuing to work with schools across Western Pennsylvania to ensure that we can get more electric buses to our region before the extended deadline on February 14th. We will continue to work until all parents in the region can feel assured knowing their kids are going to school on clean, electric school buses.”

As a parent, I am thankful for the work EPA, and leaders like Congresswoman Summer Lee, have done to bring electric school buses and cleaner air to Pittsburgh Public School students. Future generations of kids will no longer make loud engine noises when playing with toy buses or draw dirty exhaust coming out of tailpipes when coloring, a change I look forward to as it will prove we have done our job to electrify vehicles and create cleaner air” said Vanessa Lynch, Pennsylvania Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force.

“Our kids deserve to breathe clean air, they deserve to grow up free of preventable environmentally caused disease. They deserve to feel good about helping by riding a clean electric bus to school. When they graduate their post-secondary education or certification program, they deserve to enter a clean energy workforce that does not tie them to poisoning the planet so they can put food on their table, including how we generate the power to charge the buses their kids will ride” said Billy Hileman, President of Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers.

“Electric school buses provide quieter, cleaner, healthier and safer rides for students – ensuring that they start their day ready to learn and achieve their full potential,” said Kevin King, First Student’s Senior Principal EV Consultant. “Working with dedicated partners here locally and in Washington, we’ve been able to secure funding to electrify more than 115 emissions-free buses for Pittsburgh students. These buses will allow for students to arrive at school better prepared to learn, while providing the healthiest form of transportation possible  and helping Pittsburgh lead this remarkable transformation.”

“Our family relied on yellow school buses every day for the nine years that our kids were in elementary school. I used to volunteer at their school a lot. At the end of the day, I remember all of the buses lined up, idling outside the school. The bus exhaust was unbearable. Electric buses will be a dream come true for our kids!” said Kathy M. Newman, Parent and School Volunteer, Pittsburgh, PA.

“I am a firm believer that what’s best for the children is what’s best for the whole community. If environmentally friendly vehicles, such as electric school buses, would help in keeping our neighborhood and communities safe, and meet our children’s transportation needs, it’s all going to help the families and in that our community is stronger. Our communities are also stronger because our environment is healthier” said  Sharmaine Gamble, Wilkinsburg parent and School Director.

“This isn’t about better health alone; it’s about transforming our communities into vibrant places that support a good life. Electric buses are quieter, reducing noise pollution in our neighborhoods,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “They’re more efficient, lowering transportation costs and dependence on fossil fuels. They’re a practical symbol of innovation, showcasing Pittsburgh’s commitment to a sustainable future.”

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Since taking office in January, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $1 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $200 million for infrastructure, over $50 million for affordable transit, and over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 1,600 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.

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