WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, announced that the Biden administration is providing competitive grant opportunities to communities to allow them to invest in low- and no-emission public transit buses, accelerate development of clean heavy-duty trucks, and begin replacing the iconic yellow school bus with pollution free, electric buses. Ohio transit agencies will have the opportunity to apply for approximately $1.5 billion of competitive grant funds to help modernize bus fleets and facilities across the country. These historic investments in clean public transportation were made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Brown helped write and pass.
 
“Ohioans deserve world-class public transit and school bus service that is delivered with modern, buses built by American workers, and beginning today, more Ohio communities will have that opportunity,” said Senator Brown. “Employers, entrepreneurs, and workers have all been asking for better transit. These investments will create good-paying American jobs that cannot be shipped overseas, and that will help Ohio communities all over the state thrive and grow. And Ill be working to make sure Ohio communities get their fair share of this investment.”
 
Building these buses in America will not only reduce air pollution – helping reduce asthma in children – but also create good-paying, union jobs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also proposing a new rule that would significantly lower the harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from heavy-duty vehicles and establish stricter greenhouse gas emission standards for certain heavy-duty vehicles.
 
Brown recently announced approximately $73.5 million in transit funding for public transit agencies across Ohio. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide a record investment in public transit funding over the next five years. Ohio will receive $1.3 billion of guaranteed transit formula funding over the next 5 years. In fiscal year 2022, the state’s urban and rural transit providers will receive $260 million, with the $73.5 million available immediately and the remainder delivered later this year.  This critical down payment on Ohio infrastructure will help public transit agencies invest in expanding service for Ohioans, job training, and new low- and no- emission buses.
 
The final bill was signed into law in November and passed with several key provisions Brown secured for Ohio communities. As the Chairman of a key committee on infrastructure legislation, Brown delivered big investments for Ohio. The historic, bipartisan law includes Brown’s Bridge Investment Act, which will put Ohioans to work repairing, replacing and upgrading outdated infrastructure throughout the state. It also includes Brown’s Build America Buy America Act, which will ensure American labor, iron, and steel are used for these publicly funded bridge, broadband, waterway, and public transit projects.
 
 

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