Three Years After East Palestine, Rep. Sykes Pushes Safety Laws Republicans Have Yet to Pass

Three Years After East Palestine, Rep. Sykes Pushes Safety Laws Republicans Have Yet to Pass

As Congress reflects on the derailment, Sykes presses for rail safety reforms blocked under House GOP leadership.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Three years after the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) renewed her call for rail safety reform and corporate accountability, warning that Congress has still failed to pass legislation to prevent another disaster.

"East Palestine has endured three years of press conferences, visits, and empty promises from Republican leaders, but not the rail safety laws needed to prevent another derailment," said Rep. Sykes. "I am focused on results, not rhetoric, and I will keep fighting until the GOP puts people over profits."

That is why, Rep. Sykes is introducing the Railroad Safety and Accountability Act today. The bill would codify the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee, protecting labor and public-interest representation after federal regulators moved to reduce their role in safety decision-making.

She continues to press for passage of the bipartisan Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act, one of the most comprehensive rail safety proposals in Congress. The bill would require two-person train crews, increase inspections, strengthen safety standards, improve emergency notification, and raise penalties for rail safety violations.

Despite bipartisan support from Ohio lawmakers and national labor organizations, House Republican leadership has blocked the legislation from receiving a hearing in two consecutive congresses. Rep. Sykes also offered the RAIL Act as an amendment to the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill," but House Republicans rejected it.

Since the derailment, President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Sen. Jon Husted (Ohio), EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have all visited East Palestine or issued statements promising action. None have delivered rail safety legislation that would prevent another derailment.

During a 2025 House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing, Rep. Sykes pressed Secretary Duffy on what concrete steps the Department of Transportation was taking to prevent another East Palestine-style disaster, but he failed to provide specific reforms or commitments to support legislation.

Norfolk Southern has announced limited investments while continuing to resist stronger national safety rules, higher penalties, and increased federal oversight. The company has not accepted responsibility for long-term health monitoring or reforms that would reduce the risk of future disasters.

Since February 2023, Rep. Sykes has traveled to East Palestine, pressed federal agencies for answers, helped secure an EPA order requiring Norfolk Southern to pay for cleanup, and championed tax relief for impacted families that became law in 2024.

Three years later, Sykes said, East Palestine deserves action, not promises.