US Rep. Kelly Tours New Electric School Bus for Hoover-Schrum Memorial School District 157
The School District received $1.72M in federal funding to purchase five electric buses
Calumet City, Ill. – Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) presented Hoover-Schrum Memorial School District with $1,725,000 in federal funding to purchase five new electric school buses. Rep. Kelly toured a model of the bus from Illinois manufacturer Lion Electric, along with Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones, Hoover-Schrum Memorial Superintendent Dr. Dwayne Evans, US EPA Region Chief of Staff Alfred Saucedo, and Lion Electric Director of Government Relations Brian Robb.
“These funds go directly into our children’s future: for their education, health, and environment. I can think of no better investment,” said Rep. Kelly. “Our children deserve to breathe clean air. By replacing old buses with electric ones that produce zero tailpipe emissions, our children will be healthier and happier.”
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided an unprecedented $5 billion nationwide to upgrade school buses. Rep. Kelly also helped bring $2,760,000 to Lansing School District 158 for eight electric buses.
“Today’s announcement marks a significant investment from EPA and the Biden-Harris Administration in the transition to clean, zero-emission school transportation,” said Saucedo, US EPA Region Chief of Staff. “Getting diesel buses off the road will go a long way to helping students breathe a little easier on their way to school and help to address the generational challenge of climate change.”
Diesel-fueled vehicles have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm children’s health.
“By shifting to electric buses, we are taking steps toward a more sustainable future and creating a clean and healthy environment in which our students can thrive,” Superintendent Dwayne Evans said.
The buses are produced in Joliet, Illinois, by Lion Electric.
“Investments into a clean energy future are critical, and thanks to forward thinking community partners like Congresswoman Kelly and Hoover-Schrum School District, we will continue to push forward towards a greener future,” said Brian Robb, Government Relations Director at Lion Electric. “Lion is proud to manufacture all our zero emission school buses right here in Chicagoland, and even prouder to have them delivered straight to Illinois school districts and students”