Ohio congressional delegation urges swift action on RAIL Act

Members of Ohio’s congressional delegation are urging swift action on a bill that would increase rail safety. The bill differs slightly from a similar one in the Senate.

The Reducing Accidents in Locomotives, or RAIL, Act was introduced in the House earlier this month. Rep. Bill Johnson, whose district includes East Palestine, says the bill is very similar to the Railway Safety Act in the Senate.

“But there’s a couple of things in that bill in the Senate that you simply wouldn’t get through the House," Johnson said. "We have House rules here about appropriations, and so there are appropriation issues that would prevent it from getting to the House."

Johnson also cited a provision in the Senate bill that would require freight rail companies to replace all chemical tank cars by 2025, which he said is impossible to do.

The other notable difference is that the House bill does not include the requirement for every train to have a two-person crew. However, Democratic members of the Ohio delegation said that’s something they’re still interested in pursuing.