Statement from the American Lung Association on Measure to Rollback NY’s Transition to Electric School Buses

“The American Lung Association is deeply disappointed in the Legislature and the Governor’s Office for delaying the move towards replacing dirty school buses with clean, electric school buses. Rather than eliminating public health protection for our kids, lawmakers should be looking to do more, not less, to protect our kids from the well-documented harms of school bus emissions. 

In New York, school buses carry 2.3 million children to and from school every day. Nationally, 95% of these buses run on diesel fuel. The current fleet is more costly with both increased maintenance and healthcare costs. There is clear scientific evidence demonstrating the effects of diesel exhaust exposure on the human body, including asthma attacks, premature deaths, and cancer.

Children are especially vulnerable to poor air quality, as their brains and respiratory systems are still developing. Additionally, children that rely on school buses disproportionately live in disadvantaged communities and stand to benefit the most from electrification. Students with disabilities also often have longer school bus rides and, therefore, face more exposure to harmful emissions.

The Lung Association’s 27th annual “State of the Air” report found that over 1.1 million kids in New York are breathing unhealthy levels of air pollution.—putting them at greater risk— for asthma attacks, chronic health conditions and increased healthcare expenses.

Now is not the time to roll back successful clean air programs like electric school buses and the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act. New York cannot celebrate strong public health laws to protect our kids, and then years later, roll back those wins through an opaque budget process. Our children’s health and their futures deserve better.”

Michael Seilback, AVP, Nationwide Advocacy, American Lung Association