Today is Transit Equity Day, celebrated each year on Rosa Parks’ birthday during the first week of Black History Month to remind us that access to clean, reliable transportation is a civil right.
This year, civil rights are under attack by our federal government, making today feel more important than ever. In his first week in office, Trump rolled back all federal programs intended to provide support to people and communities impacted by systemic racism and environmental harm. He has frozen congressionally approved funding earmarked for air monitoring, electrification projects, and clean energy in communities historically overburdened by air pollution.
These are dangerous steps backward that put lives—and countless children—at risk. So we at Moms are following Rosa Parks, who bravely put her body where her beliefs were, and speaking out. As Rosa once said, “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” Her words could not be more appropriate for this exact moment.
Tell EPA: Protect Families From Harmful NOx Pollution
Last week, Moms’ Stephanie Reese, mother of two boys, joined the Electrifying Virginia Partnership Project in Richmond to stand up for affordable clean transit, electric vehicles, and clean air for her community. She was joined at the state capitol by friend of Moms Representative Jennifer McClellan and State Senator Jennifer Boysko.
In her remarks at the event, Stephanie called out disparity and injustice in historically marginalized communities of color and urged action. Here is an excerpt:
Pollution caused by emissions from cars, trucks, and buses is a critical part of a larger public health and climate issue that directly affects millions of families every day. This is not an abstract issue. Pollution is settling in our neighborhoods as we speak and affecting the air we are breathing right now.
This is about children, like mine, who get onto the school buses every morning and come home, on those same diesel-fuel-powered buses, every afternoon. And it’s about deciding whether we as parents and caregivers choose to act boldly to protect them—or whether we let the opportunity to make progress toward cleaner air slip away. I think the choice is clear.
We know that diesel exhaust contains harmful particles and gases that can trigger asthma, stunt lung development, contribute to poor learning outcomes, and even increase the risk of heart disease. For children’s developing lungs, brains, and hearts, the consequences of this exposure can ripple through a lifetime. Black and Brown families are disproportionately impacted because they are more likely to live near busy highways and areas with concentrated pollution. This is not just an environmental issue but an issue of justice. Minoritized communities endure nearly 8 times higher rates of pediatric asthma and 1.3 times higher risk of dying prematurely from exposure to pollutants—and this is exactly the kind of critical science the president no longer wants us to study, learn about, or reference.
Progress doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intentional policies, strong funding, and partnerships to make change a reality. And right now, progress on clean, electric transportation is at risk. Key programs, such as EPA’s Clean School Bus Program—established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—are being rolled back. The Clean School Bus Program has been instrumental in helping school districts across Virginia and the nation transition away from diesel-powered buses. Without adequate funding, it will become significantly more challenging for under-resourced school districts to make this important shift toward cleaner transportation.
The Clean School Bus Program is proof that when we invest in attainable solutions, we can make a real difference. It is not just an initiative—it is a lifeline. A lifeline for children, families, and communities who deserve cleaner air, healthier environments, and a more sustainable future. Protecting and expanding programs that invest in clean energy is not just the right thing to do—it’s a necessary action. If we are serious about equity, climate action, and the health of the next generation, it’s an action we have to take.
We’re not powerless. We have solutions. Every day, I see the movement for affordable clean transit and electric school buses growing, and every parent, advocate, and community leader who speaks up is helping to drive this change. Together, we can ensure that school districts across Virginia and the country can access the resources they need to make the switch to cleaner energy. We can make sure that no child—regardless of their zip code—is left behind in the transition to clean transportation.
Of course, the only way we can get there is if we all follow Rosa Parks’ lead.