Democrats Unveil Bill To Tighten Regulations For Hazmat Trains

"A pair of House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled a bill that would tighten regulations for trains with hazardous materials, a direct response to the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this month that spilled chemicals into the area.

The Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally (DERAIL) Act — introduced by Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) — would direct the Transportation secretary to amend the definition of a “high-hazard flammable train” to increase the number of trains subject to stricter regulations. Those regulations include slower speeds, newer cars, better breaking equipment and required reporting.

“For too long, railroads have prioritized profit ahead of public safety and their workers, and it is time to regulate the railroads. This legislation is an important step forward to finally strengthen our rail regulations and improve rail safety in communities like Western Pennsylvania and across America,” Deluzio wrote in a statement."

Mychael Schnell reports for The Hill February 28, 2023.

Source: The Hill, 03/01/2023