Weinstein, Cutrona Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Urging Congress to Pass the RAIL Act
Today, state Senators Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) and Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) introduced a resolution urging Congress to pass the Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act, a vital piece of bipartisan legislation introduced by Ohio Congresswoman Emilia Sykes and Congressman Michael Rulli. This bill seeks to address critical safety issues in the nation’s rail system, spurred by the devastating train derailment in East Palestine, which exposed serious safety concerns that must be urgently addressed.
“The tragedy in East Palestine made it painfully clear that we need stronger safeguards in our rail system to protect our communities,” said Weinstein. “The RAIL Act is a necessary and timely response to ensure that we are not only addressing the immediate safety concerns but also making long-term improvements. By requiring better inspections, two-person crews, and stronger safety measures, we are prioritizing the well-being of the public and people who live near these railways. This bipartisan legislation is a step in the right direction to restore the public’s trust in our railroads and make sure these kinds of disasters never happen again.”
The RAIL Act includes key provisions to prevent future tragedies, such as increased inspections for all trains, stronger safety placard requirements to assist emergency responders in identifying hazardous materials, higher penalties for safety violations, and the requirement for two-person crews on all Class I freight and passenger trains. It also directs the Secretary of Transportation to implement safety rules based on findings from the National Transportation Safety Board, specifically targeting issues like wheel bearing failures that contributed to the East Palestine derailment.
“Ohioans are used to seeing trains every day and being stopped at a crossing is routine, but what isn’t common is realizing the danger that is running on those rails,” said Cutrona. “The residents of East Palestine deserve to have better safeguards in place, to ensure that these tragedies never happen again and the RAIL Act, much like Ohio’s Rail Safety Act, will go a long way to making sure safety is always the priority.”
The RAIL Act represents a critical effort to improve safety and prevent further accidents. Senator Weinstein and Senator Cutrona are committed to supporting this important legislation, working to protect Ohioans and all Americans from future rail disasters, and ensuring that necessary reforms are implemented as soon as possible.