WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican and Democratic members of Congress from Ohio united on Thursday to urge passage of rail safety legislation following the toxic train derailment in East Palestine.

What You Need To Know

  • Nine of Ohio’s 15 U.S. House members held a bipartisan press conference on Thursday to urge Congress to pass federal rail safety legislation

  • The united effort comes as the two-month mark since the East Palestine toxic train derailment approaches next week

  • Currently, bipartisan legislation in the House and U.S. Senate is being considered, but the bills contain some differences

  • Spectrum News spoke with several of Ohio’s lawmakers to see what the path ahead looks like

“It’s time to improve our nation’s rail safety standards,” Representative Bill Johnson, a Republican who represents East Palestine, said, opening a rare, bipartisan press conference featuring nine of Ohio’s 15 U.S. House members.

“Public safety transcends politics and district boundaries,” Rep. Emilia Sykes, a Democrat who represents the Akron region, said. 

Since the February 3 train derailment in East Palestine, there’s been growing calls from Ohio lawmakers for federal rail laws to be reformed.

“We cannot, cannot have rail reliability without, first, rail safety,” Central Ohio GOP Rep. Mike Carey said.

“We are taking action now,” Columbus Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty added.

“We can pass this bill and we can get it to the president,” said Rep. Max Miller, a Republican from Northeast Ohio.

The RAIL Act would enact sweeping new regulations and guidelines for railroads. 

One after another, Ohio lawmakers spoke Thursday of derailments in their districts that happened before East Palestine.

“Nearly two years ago, a derailment occurred in Ravenna, Ohio, and impacted a community that’s still dealing with all the damages from that accident,” said Rep. Dave Joyce, a Republican who represents Ohio’s 14th District.

The members also highlighted Ohio’s ranking as one of the top five states for serious rail accidents and hazardous spills.

“In most rural communities across our country, there is no protocol for safety,” said Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Toledo Democrat.

Johnson and Sykes are leading the push in the House. But over in the U.S. Senate, Ohio’s Sherrod Brown (D) and JD Vance (R) have written their own bill, called the Railway Safety Act, that would go further.

One of the bill’s proposals would require two-person crews on each freight train, something the Johnson/Sykes bill does not include. President Joe Biden has already endorsed the Senate version.

Back in the House, Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Deluzio (D) and New York Rep. Nicholas LaLota (R) have introduced a companion version of the Brown/Vance bill.

In a statement to Spectrum News on Thursday, Deluzio cited the two-person crew requirement and other measures as reasons why he introduced a House version.

“They demand rail safety reform that has teeth,” he said of his constituents who live just across the state line from East Palestine.

During Thursday’s press conference, Spectrum News asked Johnson if he had spoken with Deluzio and LaLota to see why they felt it was necessary to break from the RAIL Act, and whether there is any hope of merging the two bills.

“No, quite honestly I haven’t… there’s a couple of things in that bill in the Senate that just simply wouldn’t get through the House,” Johnson said.

In recent interviews, Brown and Vance told Spectrum News they are focused on first getting their bill through the Democratic-led Senate. Then, they said they will work with Johnson and Sykes to reach a deal that can pass the Republican-led House.

Almost in unison, Ohio’s lawmakers are demanding Congress do something in the coming weeks, once members return from a two-week April recess.

“It is time we listen to our community leaders and deliver meaningful change,” said. Rep. Shontel Brown, a Cleveland Democrat.

“These derailments will continue until we do something about it,” said Rep. Greg Landsman, a Cincinnati Democrat.