Senate Approves Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan

The U.S. Senate approved on Tuesday a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan that includes funding for electric and low-emission school buses.

The plan was passed with a vote of 69 to 30 following an agreement on major provisions of the package between President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators late last month.

The infrastructure plan would invest a total of $5 billion in electric and low-emission school buses, including those powered by biofuels, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquified natural gas (LNG), and propane. The bill would also invest $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations, which the Biden-Harris Administration says is critical to accelerating the use of electric vehicles to curb climate change.

“These investments will drive demand for American-made batteries and vehicles, creating jobs and supporting domestic manufacturing, while also removing diesel buses from some of our most vulnerable communities,” the Administration says. “In addition, they will help the more than 25 million children and thousands of bus drivers who breathe polluted air on their rides to and from school.”

Other infrastructure projects that would be financed by the bill include:

• $110 billion for roads and bridges.
• $66 million for passenger and freight rail.
• $65 billion to expand broadband access.
• $55 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure.
• $39 billion for public transit.
• $17 billion for ports.

The measure now moves over to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.