Rail labor leaders urge Ohio to press Congress on RAIL Act after East Palestine derailment

Union leaders representing railroad workers urged the Ohio Senate Transportation Committee to adopt Senate Concurrent Resolution 8, which asks Congress to pass HR 971, sometimes framed as the Reducing Accidents in Locomotives or Rail (RAIL) Act, and to strengthen federal rail-safety requirements following the Feb. 3, 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine.

John Esterly, Ohio State Legislative Board Chairman for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said the resolution "urges Congress to pass HR 971, the Reducing Accidents in Locomotives or Rail Act," and noted Ohio's 2023 legislative response after the East Palestine derailment included provisions on crew size, wayside defect detectors and hazardous-material transparency recommended by the NTSB.

Clyde Whitaker, Ohio State Safety and Legislative Director for SMART Transportation, gave extended proponent testimony recounting visits to East Palestine and the human impact of the derailment. Whitaker urged passage of the resolution and described the RAIL Act's components as strengthening inspections, reinforcing hazardous-material placarding for first responders, increasing penalties for safety violations, requiring new DOT rules and mandating a minimum two-person crew for Class I freight and passenger trains.

Both witnesses cited the East Palestine derailment and its aftermath as a rationale for federal action; Esterly and Whitaker said Ohio's measures were an important step but that federal legislation is needed because trains cross state lines. The committee heard the testimony at the resolution's second hearing; no committee vote on the resolution was recorded during the session.

Witnesses said federal action would align state and national standards and increase accountability and transparency for rail carriers.