Memphis Standard

U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) have introduced the Secure School Buses Act. This bill aims to prevent school bus manufacturers with ties to foreign entities, including the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from receiving federal funding.

"Under current law, federal funding for public transit is banned from going to companies tied to U.S. adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party, but the requirements do not apply to federal funding for school buses," said Senator Blackburn. "Our Secure School Buses Act would close this dangerous loophole and safeguard national security and our nation’s students."

Senator Kelly emphasized that the Clean School Bus Program has allowed school districts across Arizona and the country to modernize their fleets while supporting American manufacturers. "This bill ensures companies that receive state support from the Chinese government can’t take advantage of this program to unfairly compete against American manufacturers," he stated.

Senator Cornyn remarked on the broader implications of such federal spending: "It is unacceptable for adversarial nations to receive any benefit at the expense of American taxpayers." He supports the bill as it would prohibit federal dollars from benefiting subsidiaries and spin-offs of predatory entities in China and other countries of concern.

"When we use taxpayer dollars, we should be investing those dollars back into American businesses, workers, and communities – not sending money overseas to adversaries like China," said Senator Baldwin. She expressed pride in working with both Democratic and Republican colleagues on this initiative.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Clean School Bus Program several years ago to replace existing school buses with electric models. According to the EPA, nearly $3 billion in taxpayer funds have been awarded through this program. Some companies in the electric bus industry have ties to foreign entities of concern, including the CCP.

Currently, localities can use federal funding to purchase buses from these companies, which market specifically for programs like Clean School Bus. While Congress has prohibited federal funds from going to companies with ties to adversaries for public transit systems, no such prohibitions exist for school buses.

Senator Blackburn has previously addressed national security risks posed by Chinese-made connected cars and electric vehicles due to many Chinese companies' subservience to the CCP. The same concerns apply to electric bus companies with similar ties.

The Secure School Buses Act seeks to prohibit federal grant funding awards to school bus manufacturers with certain ties to foreign entities of concern. The legislation is endorsed by both the Alliance for American Manufacturing and Heritage Action.