U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, representing Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District, recently visited Blue Bird Corp.’s manufacturing facility in Fort Valley, Georgia, to check out electric school bus technology.

Blue Bird officials met with Bishop to discuss the manufacturer’s electric school bus plans, facility upgrades, the growing workforce in Fort Valley, and pending federal legislation for the purchase of electric school buses, including the Clean Commute for Kids Act, according to a news release from Blue Bird.

As, School Bus Fleetpreviously reported, the Clean Commute for Kids Act authorizes $25 billion over the next decade to begin replacing aging diesel buses with electric school buses.

"I am pleased to see the work that Blue Bird is doing not only in Middle and Southwest Georgia, but for school districts all over the United States," Bishop said in the news release. "I am confident the pending legislation and improvements to their manufacturing plant will have lasting effects on the health and safety of our children, and our growing workforce. I fully support these initiatives and will do everything I can to see this come to fruition."

Phil Horlock, CEO of Blue Bird, added in the release that “These pieces of legislation will have impacts that go well beyond increased EV production, plant upgrades, and new jobs. The accelerated adoption of zero-emission school buses means a safer and healthier environment for our children and our communities. It’s a win for everyone.”

Blue Bird introduced electric school buses 27 years ago, and the OEM currently has  more than 500 electric school buses delivered or on order.

In May, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) also visited Blue Bird’s manufacturing facility in Fort Valley to get a firsthand look at electric school bus technology. Warnock toured the facility and went on a ride-and-drive of an electric school bus.