(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - On the third anniversary of the toxic Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, Labor Leaders - including those from the National AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department, joined with Members of Congress and Community Leaders at a bipartisan press conference on Capitol Hill to advocate for passage of the Railway Safety Act and commonsense Rail Safety Reform.

The press conference included remarks from co-leads of the Railway Safety Act: U.S. Representatives Chris Deluzio (Democrat-Pennsylvania), Mike Rulli (Republican-Ohio) and John Garamendi (Democrat-California); Railway Safety Act Co-Sponsor Representative Mike Lawler (Republican-New York); and House Rail Subcommittee Ranking Member Dina Titus (Democrat-Nevada) - who all voiced bipartisan support for Rail Safety Reform; Community Leaders from Pennsylvania included Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo of and Altoona Mayor Matt Pacifico, who all emphasized the importance of protecting communities from hazardous derailments.

Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) President Mike Baldwin, International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) President Ed Kelly and National AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Greg Regan spoke on behalf of the Rail Workers and Fire Fighters who act as First Responders during derailments. 

Since East Palestine, communities across the country have endured more than 200 collisions and more than 3,100 derailments, including several incidents involving hazardous materials. 

The Railway Safety Act includes measures that will keep Workers and communities safe, including but not limited to: Requiring two Crew Members to operate a train to avert a situation where only one person is present to respond to an emergency; Increasing the types of hazardous materials subject to enhanced safety protections, such as vinyl chloride, which was involved in the Norfolk Southern derailment; Requiring railroads to use defect detectors to help prevent derailments; Barring railroads from setting unsafe time limits on railcar, locomotive and brake inspections; and Holding railroads accountable for safety violations through increased fines.

For More On This Labor News Report, Go To: Members of Congress, Rail Labor Leaders, Community Officials Gather on 3-Year Anniversary of East Palestine Derailment to Urge Commonsense Rail Safety Measures - TTD

And To Watch A Replay Of The News Conference, Go To: Rail Safety Press Conference