East Palestine Update
February 3rd marked the 2nd anniversary of a day that I (and most railroaders) won't forget. The day that railroad shortcuts and operational reductions resulted in a preventable Norfolk Southern derailment that unleashed a hazmat-fueled fireball into the winter night's sky and onto the peaceful village of East Palestine, OH. What came next, beyond the uncertainty and fear of the public, was a flurry of attention and activity around rail safety, with politicians scrambling to get in front of the camera and heard on the news.
Bipartisan legislation to address rail safety was crafted in both Houses of US Congress, with now Vice President Vance leading the charge in the Senate and Rep. Nehls (R-TX) in the House.
Yet despite widespread backing from labor unions, including SMART-TD, and the public at large, the bills have been stalled, victims of Washington's dysfunction and partisan gridlock. This is not a time to point fingers (although read the story to find out why it stalled in the U.S. Senate), but instead, a time to redouble our efforts.
And that SMART-TD will do. Look to future emails on new legislation being introduced and what SMART-TD members, retirees, family, and friends of rail can do. Click on the graphic below to read the full story on the second anniversary of the East Palestine disaster.
In solidarity,
Jared Cassity
Deputy National Safety and Legislative Director
SMART Transportation Division
https://www.smart-union.org/the-east-palestine-disaster-turns-two-smart-td-demands-action/
