Press Congress for more clean school bus funds

While Illinois has been generally ahead of the national curve on providing a clean school bus fleet, far more must be done to adequately protect student health. A 2002 report noted that over a third of all Illinois school buses are well over a decade old - aging diesel vehicles built to outmoded health and safety standards. In 2001 alone, Illinois buses emitted over 100 tons of soot. The rising toll of the asthma epidemic combined with studies concluding that in-cabin school bus pollution is a particular hazard to young lungs and bodies necessitates significant attention, funding and action.

Caterpillar's $250,000 donation is an excellent civic gesture, but it is dwarfed by the pressing fiscal need. The $5 million given to the EPA for clean school bus grants in fiscal year 2003 was met with 120 applications from school districts across the country requesting nearly $60 million in funds for projects to reduce pollution from school buses. Only one suburban Chicago grant request was filled in all of Illinois. Congressman LaHood's pressing for the full administration request is essential to ensure that the technologies he praises Caterpillar for developing are actually used at a level to provide essential and long-term health and environmental benefits for our children.

Mark Bishop
State Policy Director 
Healthy Schools Campaign
Chicago

Reprinted from the Peoria Journal Star - June 10, 2004