Adam Beitman, adam.beitman@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- New reports reveal that backroom Senate bipartisan infrastructure negotiations have left on the cutting room floor critical investments to clean up toxic water and air pollution from lead pipes and diesel buses, with only meager investments remaining. The state of negotiations are at odds with the President’s commitment to replace 100% of lead pipes and electrify school buses as part of the American Jobs Plan. Yesterday, more than 100 members of Congress in the House, led by Rep. Paul Tonko, signed a letter to urge that the infrastructure package include full funding for 100% lead pipe replacement.
According to reporting and other sources, the bipartisan deal is currently slated to include as little as only 2% of the funding that is needed to replace all lead pipes ($60 billion) and only 4% of the funding that is needed to electrify all school buses ($60 billion). The health impacts of these investment gaps would hit children first and worst. Polling shows that these are among the most broadly supported infrastructure priorities: 80% of the public supports replacing all lead pipes to secure clean water while 60% supports electrifying our school buses.
In addition, current Senate negotiations reportedly include inadequate funding levels for other core climate and environmental justice priorities, including electrifying transit buses, expanding access to public transit, upgrading passenger rail, and expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
In Response, Ben Beachy, Director of the Sierra Club’s Living Economy Program Released the Following Statement:
“It would be unconscionable for Congress to pass a major infrastructure deal that asks kids across the country, especially children from communities of color, to keep drinking lead-contaminated water and breathing diesel-tainted air when we can eliminate both.
“To support healthy communities, environmental justice, a livable climate, and good jobs, it’s essential that the infrastructure deal replace 100% of lead pipes and electrify hundreds of thousands of school buses. To fill such critical gaps, House leaders must be given the opportunity to build on the current Senate proposal and deliver bolder investments that match the scale of our communities’ needs.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.