Committee Staff Report Exposes Failures in Biden-Harris EPA’s Electric School Bus Program

Sep 17, 2024

Washington, D.C. - The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations today released a new staff report titled "Majority Staff Report: Examining the Environmental Protection Agency's Electric School Bus Program."

[Link]

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), and Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Chair Earl J. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA) released the following quote about the report's findings:

"It is clear the $5 billion Clean School Bus Program is overall a failure and, in many cases, a waste of Americans' hard-earned taxpayer dollars. The program, led by the radical Biden-Harris EPA, props up a market that relies heavily upon a supply chain dominated by the Chinese Communist Party. Further, the program was constructed without the necessary safeguards to prevent fraud and incentivizes schools to use buses they otherwise would not choose. It's also important to note that the EPA refuses to tell us how many of these school buses are on the road. As the official tasked with ensuring the success of the program, Vice President Harris bears great responsibility for its significant shortcomings." The Chairs also added,"We commend EPA Inspector General Sean O'Donnell for his assistance in our investigation as well as his own work as the EPA's watchdog."

OVERVIEW OF REPORT:

• Executive Summary
• Introduction to the Clean School Bus Program
• Creation of the Clean School Bus Program
• 2022 Clean School Bus Rebate Program
• 2023 Clean School Bus Grant Program
• 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program
• Concerns with Electric School Buses
• Cost
• Environmental Impact
• Battery Production
• Battery Recycling
• Increased Risk of Fires
• Performance
• ESB Supply Chains
• National Security
• Human Rights Issues in the Supply Chain
• Problems with the Clean School Bus Program
• Lack of Verification Procedures Leads to Waste, Fraud and Abuse
• Delay Issues
• Program Imbalance
• Conclusion
• Appendix

OVERVIEW OF INVESTIGATION:

September 13, 2023: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations convenes hearing titled "Making the Grade?: Audit of the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program"

October 31, 2023: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations sends first round of surveys to school districts participating in the Clean School Bus Program.

January 9, 2024: House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) issues statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an additional $1 billion in grants for President Biden's electric school bus plan

April 5, 2024: E&C Republicans Press EPA for Information on Clean School Bus Program that Picks Winners and Losers

September 17, 2024: E&C Republicans Release Staff Report on Clean School Bus Program

Share on