The American School Bus Council renewed calls to the pupil transportation industry to solicit support from U.S. Representatives to sign a letter that asks Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to implement a $5 million public outreach program that espouses the benefits of yellow school buses.

NAPT, NASDPTS and NSTA -- all members of the ASBC along with school bus manufacturers Blue Bird, IC Bus and Thomas Built Buses -- sent out additional pleas to their members over the last week asking them to prompt local congressional members into action. At last count, 10 representatives had signed their names to the bi-partisan letter drafted by Reps. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) and Charles R. Coble (R-NC) for ASBC.

A total of 37 congressional names were needed by the deadline of March 26. Sens. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) and ames Inhofe (R- OK) wrote a similar companion letter in the U.S. Senate, NSTA reported this week. The Senate effort ends April 9.

The letters arose from several meeting held in Washington, D.C., this winter between ASBC representatives and Department of Transportation representatives and Congressional members. The public outreach campaign, which would be paid for using existing DOT funds, would push the three main messages that: school buses are the safest choice for students; school buses are the greenest motorized choice; and school bus use helps promote learning.