Washington, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16) issued the following statement on the heels of Vice President Kamala Harris’ announcement of the Biden-Harris Action Plan for Building Better School Infrastructure. 

The plan includes the launch of a $500 million program for schools to upgrade their energy systems, as well as additional programs to improve air quality and expand clean and safe school transportation, among other climate friendly provisions. 

“Our schools are the heartbeat of our communities and should become the epicenter of climate action as our nation tackles the climate crisis,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16). “Every dollar that goes towards making public school infrastructure more green allows us to protect the health of our kids and the world while supporting job security with good-paying union work, all while allowing our nation to lead on climate action. Last year I introduced the Green New Deal for Public Schools. This bill, if passed and signed into law, would invest $1.4 trillion into public schools over 10 years, fund the creation of over 1 million jobs per year, and eliminate 78 million metric tons of CO2 annually - the equivalent of taking 17 million cars off the road. This level of investment would turn every school into a safe, healthy, and comfortable learning environment and a teaching lab for the green energy transition, unleashing the brilliant potential of every student to help build a better world. That is the power our schools can have when we center them in climate discussions. I am very excited about the programs Vice President Harris announced today to help us get closer to realizing that power, and was grateful to be present at the launch event in Washington, DC. This plan is a meaningful step towards addressing the severe neglect of our public education system, and will promote renewable energy and efficiency, clean air and water, climate resilience and much more. I look forward to the day when every public school can access this kind of support, and will continue fighting to make that a reality. That means advocating for funding such as the $100 billion that the Reopen and Rebuild America School Act would authorize, and the $1.4 trillion the Green New Deal for Public Schools would provide for public K-12 schools across the country. We are on the right track and I know that with a consistent focus on our schools and climate, we can lead the world into a cleaner, more equitable future.”