Cortez Masto, Young Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Kids Get to School Safely

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced bipartisan legislation to help students get to school safely. The Safe Bus Routes to School Act would modify the Safe Routes to School program so that projects to improve the safety of school bus routes and stops are eligible for federal funding.

"Clark County has the largest school bus fleet in the entire country, and 130,000 kids rely on those buses to get from home to school and back again every day," said Senator Cortez Masto. "It's our responsibility to make sure our students are as safe as possible. This commonsense bill would open up more funding for cities and towns across the country to make school bus routes safer."

"This bill will support improvements in our communities to better ensure that young Hoosiers are safe as they travel to and from school," said Senator Young. "This legislation builds on my previous work to help increase the safety of school bus routes."

The Safe Routes to School program was created to help communities improve the safety of pedestrian and bike routes to schools, making funding available for projects such as building safer street crossings in a school zone. However, more than half of all K-12 students nationwide ride school buses. While school buses provide the safest mode of school transportation, safety challenges still exist. Students are the most vulnerable when waiting at bus stops, loading or unloading from buses, and while walking to the bus stop. The Safe Bus Routes to School Act would allow communities to use Safe Routes to School funding to improve the safety of school bus routes and stops through planning, education, and infrastructure improvements. Senator Cortez Masto previously passed legislation in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand the Safe Routes to School program to include high school students.

"Our community has seen a huge increase in the number of students hit by vehicles on their way to or from school," said Clark County School District Superintendent Jhone Ebert. "By expanding the Safe Routes to School Program, we can better educate our students and our community about the importance of following the rules of the road so that all students can travel to and from school safely."

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

Senator Cortez Masto is a champion for Nevada's students, including ensuring their safety on the way to school. She recently secured close to two million in funding for school zone flashing beacons in Reno. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included Cortez Masto provisions to invest in school infrastructure upgrades and to improve broadband access for rural students. She recently introduced bipartisan legislation to help students develop the skills they would need to become entrepreneurs and business owners. Cortez Masto has fought to ensure that English Language Learners and students with disabilities have equal access to education. She has also consistently worked to make Nevada's roads safer. Cortez Masto has introduced bipartisan legislation to protect roadside workers and has secured millions to improve road safety throughout the Silver State.

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