Affirming that the Federal Government should support school district investment in clean school buses.
Summary
Senate Resolution 563 affirms the Federal Government's support for school district investment in clean school buses. The resolution highlights the negative impacts of diesel exhaust on children's health and educational attainment. It references the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as a prior example of bipartisan support for cleaner school bus alternatives.
Expected Effects
If passed, this resolution could lead to increased federal funding for school districts to replace diesel school buses with cleaner alternatives, such as electric buses. This would likely improve air quality around schools and reduce health risks for children. The resolution itself does not allocate funding but signals Congressional intent.
Potential Benefits
- Improved air quality around schools, reducing children's exposure to harmful pollutants.
- Reduced rates of asthma, heart disease, and lung disease among children.
- Fewer missed school days due to air pollution-related illnesses, leading to improved educational outcomes.
- Support for the development and deployment of clean energy technologies.
- Potential for job creation in the manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of clean school buses.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased costs for school districts to purchase and maintain clean school buses, potentially requiring additional funding or reallocation of resources.
- Potential challenges related to the charging infrastructure and range limitations of electric school buses.
- Dependence on federal funding, which may be subject to political changes and budget constraints.
- The resolution itself doesn't guarantee funding; it only expresses the Senate's sentiment.
- Potential disruptions to existing transportation systems during the transition to clean school buses.
Constitutional Alignment
The resolution aligns with the Constitution's broad goals of promoting the general welfare, as stated in the Preamble. Congress's power to allocate funds for infrastructure and education-related initiatives is derived from Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. The resolution does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).