Three years after a toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, efforts to pass the Railway Safety Act continue amid bipartisan support and industry opposition. The legislation, co-sponsored by JD Vance, aims to mandate safety regulations for trains carrying hazardous materials. Lawmakers renewed calls for its passage this week, highlighting ongoing derailment risks.
The train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, occurred on February 4, 2023, spilling toxic chemicals from rail cars. This incident killed animals, sparked fires, and left residents suffering from various illnesses. In response, then-candidate Donald Trump visited the town in February 2023, delivering thousands of water bottles and criticizing the Biden administration's slow reaction.
"In too many cases, your goodness and perseverance were met with indifference and betrayal," Trump told locals, joined by then-Senator JD Vance and officials. Journalist Salena Zito described the visit as a pivotal moment in Trump's political resurgence. "If he is able to resurrect the magic of 2016, understanding the forgotten man and woman and the dignity of work, it started here, the day he showed up when Biden refused," she wrote.
Now, with Trump and Vance in the White House, the Railway Safety Act—co-sponsored by Vance—remains unpassed despite initial bipartisan momentum. The bill requires the Transportation Department to establish safety rules for hazardous material trains. Trump endorsed it during his 2024 campaign: "JD Vance has been working hard in the Senate to make sure nothing like this EVER happens again, and that’s why it’s so important for Congress to pass his Railway Safety Act. JD’s terrific bill has my Complete and Total Endorsement!"
This week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers urged advancing the bill from committee or incorporating it into the Surface Transportation Reauthorization. Ohio Republican Michael Rulli, who represents East Palestine and co-sponsored the 2025 version, stated, "Every single week of the year, there’s a derailment. We only heard about Palestine because we had all these chemicals on it. And the way we handled it was horrific. We got to do better."
Ohio Democrat Emilia Sykes added, "We’re holding people accountable, primarily the railroad operators, for any issues that they may be having and provide advice and guidance."
Opposition comes from groups like Mike Pence's Advancing American Freedom and the Competitive Enterprise Institute, who on January 29 urged Congress against including it in reauthorization legislation, citing costs and feasibility. "Surface transportation bills are intended to modernize infrastructure, improve mobility, and support economic growth," their letter argued, warning of unintended consequences.
John Shelton of Advancing American Freedom told reporters, "We know how to bring costs down and improve rail safety through automation and deregulation. We saw it work during the first Trump administration."
The Association of American Railroads also opposes the measure. Ted Greener, its senior vice president of communications, praised the department's automated track inspection testing as a better approach and noted the bill's repeated rejections.
A Republican strategist near the White House views the act positively: "It’s a rare piece of legislation that is popular with both the MAGA populist base and the broader electorate, and would give the administration a strong bipartisan political win."
