Chairman Crowley Introduces Legislation to Combat Noise Pollution in Schools

(Washington, D.C.) — Today, Congressman Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, introduced legislation to help reduce excessive noise in schools.

The Peaceful Learning Act of 2018 is a core component of Chairman Crowley’s Better Deal for Queens and the Bronx, a comprehensive plan put forward by Chairman Crowley to improve the lives of families, working men and women, and students in New York’s 14th Congressional District. 

This legislation would require federal and local agencies to implement new strategies to reduce noise pollution in schools and assess how students are impacted by excessive noise from nearby public transit currently.

“We have a responsibility to our students to ensure they receive the highest quality education possible. But when trains rattle their desks and excessive noises disrupts their classrooms, it is simply not possible for students to succeed,” said Chairman Crowley. “And while Republicans in Congress have failed to act, an entire generation of students has been deprived of the opportunities they deserve. There’s no time left to waste – we must create a peaceful learning environment for all of our children” 

In the 1970s, a landmark report found that excessive noise emanating from public transit has an adverse impact on children’s’ learning, a conclusion that has been supported by numerous studies since.

Since he was first elected to Congress, Chairman Crowley has prioritized combating noise pollution in Queens and the Bronx. Last week, Chairman Crowley and his fellow New York Members of the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus successfully attached amendments to the FAA Reauthorization Act to help mitigate aircraft noise, and last year, he co-sponsored the Airplane Impacts Mitigation (AIM) Act of 2017 to study the health impacts of prolonged airplane noise on local communities. In 2014, Chairman Crowley worked with parents of elementary students at P.S. 85 in Queens to develop the originalPeaceful Learning Act.  

Chairman Crowley’s Better Deal plan for Queens and the Bronx can be read here.