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Sponsors urge Congress to pass rail-safety "Veil Act" after East Palestine derailment
Summary
Sponsors presented Senate Concurrent Resolution 8 urging Congress to pass the federal Rail Act (referred to in testimony as the "Veil Act") to require two-person train crews, stronger inspection standards and better hazardous-material disclosure to communities; committee held a first hearing.
Senators sponsoring Senate Concurrent Resolution 8 told the Senate Transportation Committee the measure urges Congress to pass the federal bill referred to in testimony as the Rail Act or "Veil Act," which would aim to tighten safety standards for trains carrying hazardous materials.
One sponsor said the East Palestine derailment on Feb. 3, 2023, had “devastated” communities and that state lawmakers should urge Congress to act. "When that derailment occurred, hazardous materials were leaked out. Communities were devastated," the sponsor told Chair Patton and committee members.
A second sponsor described the bill’s provisions in more detail: it “would require all class 1 freight and passenger trains to operate with a minimum of 2 person crews,” strengthen inspection standards for trains carrying hazardous materials, improve notification to state and local emergency responders about hazardous shipments and “improve the visibility and accuracy of safety placards” for first responders. The sponsor also said the bill would address mechanical vulnerabilities such as wheel bearing failures, increase penalties for safety violations, provide funding for hazardous-materials training for first responders and direct the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to implement new safety rules based on NTSB findings.
Ranking Member Antonio and other committee members pressed sponsors on whether the federal bill requires disclosure of hazardous-material contents to local responders; a sponsor answered that the act “requires disclosures when there are hazardous materials going through a community,” and that they would provide more granular details if requested. Senator Timken asked about the bill’s status in Congress; a sponsor said they would follow up with Congressman Ruley and make that information available to the committee.
Why it matters: Sponsors framed the measure as bipartisan and a direct response to the East Palestine derailment, seeking federal action to improve rail safety and emergency response. The committee recorded a first hearing; sponsors offered to provide follow-up details on disclosure provisions and federal progress.
