A railway reform bill championed by freshman Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jd-vance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J.D. Vance</a> (R-OH) is winning over high-profile support from strange political bedfellows as it heads into committee on Wednesday.
<a href="https://www.brown.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/railway_safety_act_of_2023_text.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Railway Safety Act of 2023</a> was drafted after a train derailment and chemical spill contaminated the area around the small town of East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3. The accident drew national attention as residents reported symptoms of nausea and dizziness and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cincinnati-and-northern-kentucky-shut-down-water-intakes-after-train-derailment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regional water supplies</a> across several neighboring states showed signs of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/prominent-grocery-store-chain-pulls-water-bottles-sourced-near-east-palestine-train-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contamination</a>. The Department of Transportation and Norfolk Southern, the company that owned and operated the derailed train, were blasted by both sides of the aisle for perceived deficiencies in their safety standards.
The bill aims to “enhance safety requirements for trains transporting hazardous materials” and would increase inspection requirements, raise fines for safety violations, limit the size of trains, and set a minimum crew size of two certified personnel for all freight trains.
Vance’s bill has generated a considerable amount of bipartisan support — in addition to its Republican cosponsors, Josh Hawley (MO) and Marco Rubio (FL), the Rail Safety Act was also cosponsored by fellow Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown (D), one of the Senate’s <a href="https://progressivepunch.org/scores.htm?house=senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most progressive</a> members, as well as other Rust Belt Democrats Bob Casey and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and President Biden have also <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3993951-trump-throws-support-behind-bipartisan-railway-safety-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signaled</a> their support for the bill.
Former President Trump, Biden’s predecessor and possible opponent in the upcoming 2024 presidential elections, has also lent his support to the bill. Trump visited East Palestine roughly three weeks after the disaster and slammed Biden for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-will-not-visit-east-palestine-following-train-catastrophe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failing</a> to do the same. Trump and Vance are close political allies — Trump endorsed Vance in 2022 and the two men toured affected areas in Ohio together after the disaster.
“JD Vance has been working hard in the Senate to make sure nothing like this EVER happens again, and that’s why it’s so important for Congress to pass his Railway Safety Act. JD’s terrific bill has my Complete and Total Endorsement!!!” Trump said via <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/110334093385622636" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Truth Social</a>.
Last week, Brown told <a href="https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2023/02/22/trump-tours-east-palestine--meets-with-residents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a> that he believed the bill would have enough support to pass through the Senate, but expressed concern that House Republicans might block it. Railroads are vital to the U.S. economy and move about <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/03/why-freight-railroads-are-so-successful-in-the-us.html#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20freight%20rail%20network,of%20long%20distance%20freight%20volume." target="_blank" rel="noopener">40%</a> of all long-distance freight by volume; many conservative groups have come out in opposition to the bill, arguing that it would create “a slew of significant new regulations that would do little to improve safety while creating gross inefficiencies for thousands of businesses.”
“Labor unions would be granted their long-desired wish to permanently freeze current staffing levels into place as it relates to locomotive operations,” FreedomWorks President Adam Brandon <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/courage-strength-optimism/freedomworks-comes-out-against-bipartisan-rail-safety-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> in a letter to Congress, undersigned by over 20 conservative leaders. “This widely opposed policy lacks any justification, as shown by the previous administration, and ignores the fact that the train that derailed in Ohio had three people operating the train.”
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The former president’s support could prove to be decisive, as Trump continues to hold considerable sway over the Republican grassroots and a <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2024/president/us/2024_republican_presidential_nomination-7548.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commanding lead</a> in the party’s primary, giving him considerable influence within the party.
Notably, perennial Trump antagonist Mitt Romney(R-UT) has also come out in support of the bill, as well as Senators Mike Braun (R-IN) and Roger Marshall (R-KS).
“I’m thankful to have the backing of Senators Braun, Marshall, and Romney for this commonsense piece of legislation,” Vance said in a press release given to The Daily Wire. “Their support for this bill demonstrates the widespread, bipartisan consensus building for improvements to railway safety standards across the nation.”
If the bill makes its way to President Biden’s desk, it would be the first major piece of legislation passed by the divided 118th Congress.
The Midwest has been a pivotal battleground in recent presidential cycles and neither 2024 contender can afford to lose ground there: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/12/01/donald-trump-will-be-president-thanks-to-80000-people-in-three-states/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">narrow</a> victories in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin propelled Donald Trump to the White House in 2016 and <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/12/02/940689086/narrow-wins-in-these-key-states-powered-biden-to-the-presidency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">narrow</a> defeats gave the contest to Biden in 2020. Ohio has historically been a vital bellwether state, but has veered deeper into the Republican camp in the last few presidential cycles — President Obama won the state in 2012 by <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/2016/06/2012_ohio_presidential_electio.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three</a> points but President Trump carried it by <a href="https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/ohio/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eight</a> in 2020.

CSX railroad

J.D. Vance’s Railway Reform Bill Picks Up Steam

Vance Railway Reform Bill Picks Up Steam

Congress

Donald Trump

East Palestine

JD Vance

Joe Biden

Ohio

Politics

Mayhem <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bedlam-as-hundreds-of-teenagers-inundate-downtown-chicago" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has hit the streets of Chicago yet again</a> after more than 100 teenagers rioted this past weekend throughout the Windy City. In a city where a large number of children — particularly minorities — are born out of wedlock, that disorder is no surprise.
As video evidence shows, young Chicagoans jumped on cars and buses, set fires, and engaged in otherwise unruly conduct over the past few days. The police, by their own admission, were simply too overwhelmed to stop the chaos. Here is what some of it looked like:
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🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: Chaotic Scene Unfolds in Downtown Chicago as Teenagers Vandalize Cars and Gunfire Erupts 
📌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chicago?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chicago</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Illinois?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Illinois</a> ⁰ There is currently a significant police response taking place in downtown Chicago due to a large group of teenagers causing chaos. They have been… <a href="https://t.co/n7xhBpsTKs">pic.twitter.com/n7xhBpsTKs</a>
&mdash; R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) <a href="https://twitter.com/rawsalerts/status/1647457314494971910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Cell phone video shows group jumping on vehicle along Michigan Avenue <a href="https://t.co/vyGYiYnHpp">https://t.co/vyGYiYnHpp</a> <a href="https://t.co/gm00vZdwrO">pic.twitter.com/gm00vZdwrO</a>
&mdash; ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC7Chicago/status/1647460856505020416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In reaction to it all, one young Chicago woman asked, &#8220;Where are the parents at?&#8221;
The better question is, &#8220;Where is the father?&#8221; Since 1980, <a href="https://wirepoints.org/ongoing-teen-violence-puts-parenting-at-center-stage-in-chicago-wirepoints/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than 70% of black children have been born to unmarried mothers</a> in Chicago. Meanwhile, 56.7% of Latino children in Chicago were born out of wedlock — a remarkably high number in its own right. Meanwhile, just 12.5% of white children in the Windy City are born to single mothers, and even fewer Asians are born in that situation.
Perhaps it is no surprise then that Asians are the most likely demographic to <a href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/10/22/chicago-narrows-racial-gaps-in-5-year-graduation-rate-but-disparities-persist/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">do better in school and graduate high school</a>. Whites follow, then Latinos, and black Chicagoans are least likely to graduate high school.
In Chicago in 2021, black Americans accounted for roughly 73% of all arrests, Hispanics made up 19% in that category, white individuals accounted for 8% of total arrests, and Asian/Pacific Islanders comprised just 1% of arrests, according to <a href="https://home.chicagopolice.org/wp-content/uploads/2021-Annual-Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">police data</a>.
Again, those numbers, like high school graduation rates, are inversely proportionate to the rate of out-of-wedlock births per each racial group.
The <a href="https://ifstudies.org/blog/less-poverty-less-prison-more-college-what-two-parents-mean-for-black-and-white-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data also show</a> that children in black households with two parents are more likely to graduate high school, have a better quality of life, and avoid breaking the law.
That is because a mother and father provide the emotional support and stability needed for children to have a solid start in life. Without that foundation, they are starting at a disadvantage. This has been true in every culture and country to ever exist.
In modern America, that fact is no different in rural areas. According <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/06/19/family-life-is-changing-in-different-ways-across-urban-suburban-and-rural-communities-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to the data,</a> as of 2018, &#8220;Whites accounted for 78.2 percent of the rural population compared to 57.3 percent of urban areas.&#8221;
In <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/06/19/family-life-is-changing-in-different-ways-across-urban-suburban-and-rural-communities-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">such places</a>, &#8220;Among whites, 33% of births in rural areas are to unmarried women, compared with 20% in urban areas and 26% in the suburbs.&#8221; Children there are more likely to have what the Centers for Disease Control and Protection call Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES). Aces include, but are not limited to, violence in the home or community, abuse and neglect, or having a family member attempt or commit suicide.
&#8220;Across children of all ages, more living in rural areas (45% for children birth to 5) experienced at least [one] ACE compared to children in the other two geographic areas [urban, large rural],&#8221; according to one study. It is not a peaceful existence for those innocent little ones — and just like minorities in Chicago, that degeneration spreads the longer it occurs.
“ACE exposure [is] linked to risky health behaviors and chronic health conditions in adulthood,&#8221; according to the CDC, and “may also result in an intergenerational cycle of experiences.”
While the form of tragedies may present in different forms — more likely drug overdoses and domestic abuse rather than riots and smash and grabs  — the trend of dysfunction is comparable to the inner cities.</div>
As Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), who grew up around such a community <a href="https://villagemissions.org/broken-families-in-rural-america/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained</a>, &#8220;Chaos begets chaos. Instability begets instability. Welcome to family life for the American hillbilly.&#8221;
The same can be said for American city dwellers — for at least the past 50 years.
One should consider that in 1969, Elvis Presley released “In the Ghetto,” portraying a single mother raising a boy in Chicago who turns into a criminal. The absence of a father is heavily felt throughout. At the end of the song, a single mother births a new baby boy and the pattern continues, resulting in more violence. 
Chicago&#8217;s Democratic Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson&#8217;s <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/chicago-mayor-elect-brandon-johnson-rebukes-large-corporations-poverty-violence-city" target="_blank" rel="noopener">solution to that problem</a> is a bigger government and one that taxes corporations more in order to increase. Of course, in 1964, President Lyndon Johnson launched the &#8220;war on poverty&#8221; using a similar framework.
In 1970, <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/352149" target="_blank" rel="noopener">just 11% of all households in Chicago</a> were headed by single parents. That number has increased by roughly 200% since that time.
The answer to this disarray is to promote strong fathers and male role models, getting married then having children, and encouraging parents to stay together. That can&#8217;t be done through the government alone — communities, men&#8217;s groups, and religious organizations will have to play a role.
Until that happens, more scenes like this past weekend in Chicago will occur. The children growing up today, like their fathers before them, will not know any better and the cycle will continue.
The issue here is not one of race. Broken families upend every community, and the more of them that exist in a given area, the more likely societal decay will occur. Remember what Vance said, &#8220;Chaos begets chaos.&#8221;
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Chicago police car on fire, May 2020

Chaos Rules In Chicago, The Lack Of Two-Parent Homes Is To Blame

Chaos Rules In Chicago, The Lack Of Two-Parent Homes Is To Blame.

Chicago

Fathers

Illinois

This topic doesn&#8217;t get discussed as much as it used to, but some folks like <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jd-vance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH)</a> and Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) believe that as a country, America should adopt English as its official language. This week, the two senators introduced legislation to do just that.
“This commonsense legislation recognizes an inherent truth: English is the language of this country. That is why the overwhelming majority of the American people support this proposal,” Vance said in a press release.
It should be noted that the majority of states — 31 and all U.S. territories — already recognize English as their language.
“The English language has been a cornerstone of American culture for over 250 years,” Vance added. “It is far past time for Congress to codify its place into law, which is exactly what this bill does.”
Fittingly named “The English Unity Act,” all laws, public proceedings, regulations, publications, orders, actions, programs, and policies would be in English under this bill. This is actually the latest version of the bill, as the “The English Language Unity Act&#8221; has previously been introduced, though never signed into law.
The bill also states that “Representatives of the Federal Government shall have an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language of the Federal Government. Such obligation shall include encouraging greater opportunities for individuals to learn the English language.”
Radio host Michael Savage has often said that a nation can be defined by its “Borders, Language, Culture.”
In 2005, a similar bill <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/19/washington/senate-votes-to-set-english-as-national-language.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earned 64 votes</a> in the Senate. It effectively died thereafter, but that doesn&#8217;t mean that it&#8217;s officially settled business.
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While our borders are wide open and it&#8217;s unclear what our culture still values (equality or equity?), Vance and Cramer’s bill would at least get the U.S. one step closer to having a recognized, unified language — which can go a long way in restoring America’s motto “E Pluribus Unum” that seems to be slipping away more and more each year.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

American flag

Should English Be The Official U.S. Language? These Two GOP Senators Think So.

America

English

Senate

United States

Yet another Norfolk Southern train derailed on Thursday just as the company&#8217;s CEO was testifying to Congress about the disastrous chemical train crash in Ohio.
The company said about 30 empty cars on a Norfolk Southern train derailed in Alabama as it was traveling from Atlanta to Mississippi.
“Norfolk Southern is responding to a derailment in Piedmont, Alabama,” the company <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/railroads/3892022-norfolk-southern-train-derails-in-alabama-as-ceo-testifies-in-congress/">said</a> in a statement. “There are no reports of injuries and no reports of a hazardous materials release. We are working in close coordination with local officials.”
Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade <a href="https://www.wbrc.com/2023/03/09/train-derails-east-calhoun-county/">said</a> there have been no injuries or property damage. There is also no risk of hazardous material, he said.
The derailment occurred around the same time Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw appeared before the Senate to discuss other recent derailments, including a train carrying noxious chemicals that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio last month.
Officials are still dealing with the fallout and cleanup around the accident site. They decided to do a controlled burn of the chemicals in the train cars, releasing them into the air. One of those chemicals was vinyl chloride, a highly flammable substance used to make PVC and known to cause cancer.
Residents of East Palestine were initially evacuated but later told they could return to their homes. However, many are concerned that the dangerous materials have impacted air and water quality, and some residents have reported negative health effects, including trouble breathing, headaches, and damage to their voices. Animals have also died in the wake of the crash, including thousands of fish.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) peppered Shaw with questions about rail safety, pushing him to commit to lobbying for improved safety regulations, rather than against them.
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Sen. Merkley presses the CEO of Norfolk Southern on the company&#39;s safety regulations following the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. <a href="https://t.co/zRa2mfDdWg">https://t.co/zRa2mfDdWg</a> <a href="https://t.co/pjWx25Va1J">pic.twitter.com/pjWx25Va1J</a>
&mdash; The Associated Press (@AP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/1633902074713784325?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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“Will your team lobby for safety improvements rather than against them?” Merkley asked Shaw, who did not answer directly.
“I just really thought when you said ‘turn over a new leaf,’ I thought you were saying you were going to now support safety regulations,” Merkley said. “I’m sorry you can’t tell this crowd here today that would like to hear that, that that is the case.”
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) testified as a witness and suggested the disaster received a slow response because there was little political reward in a swift one.
“I think that our leadership, our media, and our politicians were slow to respond to this crisis in part because a certain segment of our leadership feels like the people of East Palestine are a little out of style,” Vance said. “They have the wrong politics, they’re a little too rural. Maybe a little too white.”
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Must Watch
Senator <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance1</a>&#39;s Full Testimony At Senate Hearing On The Norfolk Southern Derailment In East Palestine, Ohio 
Senator Vance Responding To People Claiming His Legislation Violates The &quot;Free Market&quot;:
&quot;This is an industry that enjoys special subsidies that almost no… <a href="https://t.co/qdNZ9SDZ6l">https://t.co/qdNZ9SDZ6l</a> <a href="https://t.co/vjIV9xi6n5">pic.twitter.com/vjIV9xi6n5</a>
&mdash; The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) <a href="https://twitter.com/ColumbiaBugle/status/1633870123957092380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Earlier this week, a Norfolk Southern conductor was killed when a dump truck crashed into a train, raising more questions about the company’s safety climate.
In the aftermath of the accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board this week announced a special investigation into Norfolk Southern.

Senate Environment Committee Hearing On Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

Another Norfolk Southern Train Derails As CEO Testifies To Congress

Disasters

Norfolk Southern

U.S.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers unveiled a bill on Wednesday that would increase safety restrictions on <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/ohio-train-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trains</a> carrying hazardous materials.
The legislation comes weeks after a Norfolk Southern train derailed near East Palestine, Ohio. Authorities evacuated all residents within one mile of the February 3 incident and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/evacuation-ordered-ohio-governor-warns-major-explosion-could-send-shrapnel-a-mile-from-derailed-train" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started</a> a controlled burn of chemicals on the vehicle to lower the risk of an explosion, producing massive plumes of black smoke visible throughout eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the Railway Safety Act of 2023, which would require rail companies to report hazardous materials present trains to state authorities, raise inspection requirements, and increase the rigor of defect detection efforts. Other sponsors include Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), and Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA).
“Through this legislation, Congress has a real opportunity to ensure that what happened in East Palestine will never happen again. We owe every American the peace of mind that their community is protected from a catastrophe of this kind,” Vance said in a <a href="https://www.vance.senate.gov/press-releases/senators-vance-brown-to-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-prevent-train-derailment-disasters/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “Action to prevent future disasters is critical, but we must never lose sight of the needs of the Ohioans living in East Palestine and surrounding communities. One day, the TV cameras will leave, and the news cycle will move on, but the needs of those Ohioans will remain.”
The <a href="https://www.vance.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Railway-Safety-Act.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legislation</a> would also increase several civil penalties for violations of rail safety regulations tenfold and require that each train must operate with at least two-person crews. With respect to safety in transporting hazardous materials, each carrier must produce a gas discharge plan and submit to periodic inspections with minimum time requirements. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg would be directed by the legislation to enumerate more specific rules. The Biden administration has <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/01/politics/congress-response-railway-safety-norfolk-southern/index.html">called on</a> Congress to enact similar reforms.
“The Norfolk Southern train derailment left Pennsylvania and Ohio families, businesses, and first responders grappling with a disaster that spilled hazardous materials in their community. It shouldn’t have happened here and it shouldn’t happen anywhere else in America,” Casey added. “The Railway Safety Act will make freight rail safer, hold rail companies accountable for putting communities and workers in harm’s way, and protect people over profits.”
The train derailment launched debate in Washington over increased scrutiny for rail companies. Buttigieg <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/buttigieg-touts-funding-to-improve-rail-safety-in-wake-of-ohio-train-crash-doesnt-mention-what-hes-doing-right-now-to-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the White House has been “constrained” on rail safety due to a “braking rule withdrawn by the Trump administration in 2018 because of a law passed by Congress in 2015.” National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy later <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-blames-trump-for-ohio-train-derailment-even-the-ntsb-chair-calls-that-misinformation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clarified</a> that the rule would not have applied to the train which derailed in East Palestine because of its classification as a “mixed freight train” rather than a “high hazard flammable train.”
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Federal investigators have preliminarily <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-details-in-east-palestine-train-derailment-revealed-in-fresh-ntsb-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concluded</a> that the derailment was caused by a malfunctioning rail axle. “Surveillance video from a residence showed what appears to be a wheel bearing in the final stage of overheat failure moments before the derailment,” the NTSB said in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/investigators-provide-more-details-on-what-caused-ohio-train-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “The wheelset from the suspected railcar has been collected as evidence for metallurgical examination.”

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Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Improve Rail Safety After Ohio Train Crash

Senators Introduce Bill To Improve Rail Safety After Ohio Train Derailment

John Fetterman

Josh Hawley

Marco Rubio

Ohio Train Disaster

Railroads

Sherrod Brown

Train

Residents of <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/erin-brockovich-torches-biden-over-east-palestine-debacle-youre-not-gonna-gaslight-me/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East Palestine</a>, Ohio, are still worried, despite EPA reassurances, that the air and water in their community are not safe to breathe and drink — and while they wait to find out, one of their senators is attending ritzy Hollywood fundraisers.
According to a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrat-ohio-senator-fundraises-hollywood-toxic-chemical-spill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> published Tuesday by Fox News Digital, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) was rubbing elbows with Tinseltown elites while his <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/joy-behar-blames-east-palestine-residents-for-train-disaster-because-they-voted-for-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">constituents</a> wondered about the water quality in their own homes.
Brown shared some photos of himself spending time in East Palestine, talking to both officials and residents about the clean-up process.
&#8220;I spent the afternoon with residents from East Palestine &amp; the surrounding area. I’m in constant contact with Ohioans and authorities to get this community the resources it needs, and to hold Norfolk Southern accountable to pay for it,&#8221; he tweeted on Monday afternoon.
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I spent the afternoon with residents from East Palestine &amp; the surrounding area.
I’m in constant contact with Ohioans and authorities to get this community the resources it needs, and to hold Norfolk Southern accountable to pay for it. <a href="https://t.co/m3seIQDkhM">pic.twitter.com/m3seIQDkhM</a>
&mdash; Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSherrodBrown/status/1630342956405194755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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But just a few days earlier, according to event organizer Jill Goldman — a member of former President Barack Obama&#8217;s National Finance Committee — Brown and his wife were present at a Hollywood Hills fundraiser alongside Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).
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&#8220;Last night cohosting my absolutely favorite US SENATOR SHERROD BROWN, his beyond incredible brilliant wife novelist and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist @schultz_connie and amazing kick a** SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN the first LGBTQ person elected to the US Senate @tammybaldwinwi !!&#8221; Goldman captioned the photo.
&#8220;If you know me you know I have been a big fan of Sherrod’s for years !! Sherrod is a progressive champion who wins in a tough state like Ohio because Ohioans know he fights for them in the workplace. His Dignity of Work message enables him to reach those Trump voters even though he has been pro-choice his whole career, gets an F from the NRA and has been for marriage equality since he voted against DOMA in the 90’s!&#8221; she continued, adding, &#8220;SHERROD is up for a tight re/election campaign 2024 but he can do it in a red Ohio! I love Sherrod !! We need Ohio to keep the Senate Blue !!THE SENATE NEEDS SHERROD BROWN !! WE ALLL NEED SHERROD NOW MORE THAN BEFORE !!!&#8221;
A second photo in the same post showed Brown and Baldwin together at the event.

CFPB Director Rohit Chopra Testifies Before Senate Banking Committee

East Palestine Is Still Suffering — But Ohio’s Democrat Senator Took Time For A Hollywood Fundraiser

East Palestine Is Still Suffering — But Ohio's Democrat Senator Took Time For A Hollywood Fundraiser

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) gave an indirect answer when asked if he would drink the water in East Palestine, Ohio.
Appearing on CNN&#8217;s &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2023/02/19/sotu-brown-full.cnn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State of the Union</a>&#8221; Sunday, Brown deferred to local officials when asked whether he would drink the water contaminated by chemicals from the Norfolk Southern train derailment on February 3. Brown went on to blame the derailment on the rail company, claiming it laid off key workers and conducted stock buybacks instead of investing in safety.
&#8220;[W]ould you drink the water in East Palestine?&#8221; guest host Pamela Brown asked. &#8220;And do you think the officials there who are saying it&#8217;s safe, they should drink the water too to show the residents that they would drink it?&#8221;
&#8220;Well, I think they are,&#8221; the Senator responded. &#8220;I mean, I talked to the mayor. The mayor said definitively, emphatically, that people can drink the water. I don&#8217;t know. I don&#8217;t think the mayor has small kids. He looks a little older to me. I didn&#8217;t ask him about bathing his kids. But he has said he would drink this water.&#8221;
Brown then claimed that the derailment was caused by corporate greed on the part of Norfolk Southern. &#8220;Pamela, this is really the same old story. Corporations do stock buybacks, they do big dividend checks, they lay off workers. Thousands of workers have been laid off from Norfolk Southern. Then they don&#8217;t invest in safety rules and safety regulations, and this kind of thing happens. That&#8217;s why people in East Palestine are so upset.&#8221;
&#8220;These things are happening because the railroads are simply not investing the way they showed in car safety and in the rail lines themselves,&#8221; he said.
J.D. Vance (R-OH), has not deferred to officials on the topic of water safety. After the EPA said Wednesday that the water in the municipal well showed no quality concerns, Vance called on them to put the water where their mouth is.
“I think that if the EPA administrator wants to stand here and tell people that the tap water is safe, by all means, they should be willing to drink it,&#8221; he said.
Vance also posted a video to his personal Twitter account, where he scraped a creek bed, showing an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-disgusting-j-d-vance-scrapes-creek-bed-with-stick-after-train-crash-oily-substance-emerges-in-viral-video" target="_blank" rel="noopener">oily sheen</a> from chemicals in the water. “This is disgusting,” he said. “The fact that these chemicals are still seeping in the ground is an insult to the people who live in East Palestine. Do not forget these people.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Visited a local creek in East Palestine today. These waterways are still very polluted. It’s time for Norfolk Southern to finish the cleanup. Check this video out: <a href="https://t.co/4lsHBmrMJj">pic.twitter.com/4lsHBmrMJj</a>
&mdash; J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance1/status/1626305927207854089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-plans-visit-to-east-palestine-says-locals-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> is scheduled to visit the village on Wednesday.

Senate Democrats Press Conference

Ohio Dem Gives Strange Answer When Asked If He Would Drink Water In East Palestine

Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown Gives Strange, Indirect Answer When Asked If He Would Drink Water In East Palestine

State of the Union

Footage of Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jd-vance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J.D. Vance</a> (R-OH) disturbing a creek bed in East Palestine, <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/ohio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ohio</a>, and causing chemical bubbles to rise to the surface garnered millions of views as the nation becomes increasingly concerned about the fallout from the nearby Norfolk Southern <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/ohio-train-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">train derailment</a>.
Local and state authorities previously evacuated all residents within one mile of the derailment and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/evacuation-ordered-ohio-governor-warns-major-explosion-could-send-shrapnel-a-mile-from-derailed-train" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started</a> a controlled burn of industrial chemicals present on the vehicle to decrease the risk of an explosion, which could have sent shrapnel throughout the small town. Vinyl chloride, a carcinogen used to manufacture PVC, was released from five train cars last week in the form of massive plumes of dark smoke visible throughout eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
In footage posted by Vance on Thursday afternoon, the newly elected lawmaker stood next to a small creek in East Palestine. Beyond the “dead worms and dead fish” he observed in the water, Vance used a stick to disturb the bottom of the creek; moments later, an oily sheen of chemicals emerged to the surface of the water.
“This is disgusting,” he commented. “The fact that these chemicals are still seeping in the ground is an insult to the people who live in East Palestine. Do not forget these people.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Visited a local creek in East Palestine today. These waterways are still very polluted. It’s time for Norfolk Southern to finish the cleanup. Check this video out: <a href="https://t.co/4lsHBmrMJj">pic.twitter.com/4lsHBmrMJj</a>
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance1/status/1626305927207854089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
The footage comes after federal and state officials insisted that the water in East Palestine is currently potable. The EPA <a href="https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=15933" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that “test results from the village’s municipal well sampling showed no water quality concerns,” while Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH) <a href="https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/east-palestine-water-quality-update-2152023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that tests conducted by the Ohio EPA revealed “no detection of contaminants in raw water from the five wells that feed into East Palestine’s municipal water system.” He added that the agency is “confident that the municipal water is safe to drink.”
Fox 19 anchor Tricia Macke shared a similar video in which she threw a rock into a creek and caused chemicals to rise to the surface. “Would you stay here? Would you drink that water?” she asked. “Would you bathe your kids when it’s bubbling up and looking like an oil slick?”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
You cannot deny &#8211; that water is not clean. <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX19?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FOX19</a> <a href="https://t.co/HjPFEtwijZ">pic.twitter.com/HjPFEtwijZ</a>
— Tricia Macke (@FOX19Tricia) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX19Tricia/status/1626363319794769920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
Vance also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/they-should-be-willing-to-drink-it-epa-says-water-is-safe-after-ohio-train-crash-j-d-vance-invites-him-to-take-a-sip" target="_blank" rel="noopener">challenged</a> EPA Administrator Michael Regan, who visited East Palestine on Thursday, to drink the tap water his agency claimed was safe. “If I was living here, I would drink the bottled water for now. Better safe than sorry, especially because it’s being provided for free,” he told reporters. “That’s the advice I would give, and again, the residents are going to make their own decisions on this.”
DeWine spokesperson Dan Tierney said in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-rejects-federal-disaster-assistance-for-ohio-town-impacted-by-toxic-train-derailment-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> to Fox News that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, also known as FEMA, rejected the state’s request for federal aid because the incident purportedly did not qualify for assistance. Ohio was able to receive some help through the Department of Health and Human Services to assist residents who need medical care as a result of the derailment and controlled burn.
Beyond concerns with the water, residents have mentioned a lingering smell in the air, deceased wildlife and livestock, and various health issues. One first responder said in an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unlike-anything-i-have-ever-seen-ohio-first-responder-says-residents-suffer-from-health-issues-after-train-derailment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with The Daily Wire that he and his colleagues experienced “bad cough, headaches, sore throat, and diarrhea” after assisting community members impacted by the derailment.

‘This Is Disgusting’: J.D. Vance Scrapes Creek Bed With Stick After Train Crash, Oily Substance Emerges In Viral Video

J.D. Vance Scrapes East Palestine Creek Bed With Stick, Oily Substance Emerges In Viral Video

Chemicals

Health

Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jd-vance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J.D. Vance</a> (R-OH) challenged <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/environmental-protection-agency-epa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EPA</a> Administrator Michael Regan to drink a glass of tap water in East Palestine, <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/ohio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ohio</a>, after the agency claimed the water supply was safe despite the small town’s recent Norfolk Southern <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/ohio-train-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">train derailment</a> and toxic <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/chemicals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chemical</a> disaster.
Local and state authorities previously evacuated all residents within one mile of the derailment and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/evacuation-ordered-ohio-governor-warns-major-explosion-could-send-shrapnel-a-mile-from-derailed-train" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started</a> a controlled burn of industrial chemicals on the vehicle to decrease the risk of an explosion, which could have sent shrapnel throughout the small town. Vinyl chloride, a carcinogen used to manufacture PVC, was released from five train cars last week in the form of massive plumes of dark smoke visible throughout eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Regan visited the town on Thursday after critics accused the Biden administration of paying minimal attention to the incident. He <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX19Tricia/status/1626301090428858374" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that his agency deployed sophisticated means of testing the air and water supply.
“We are not receiving any high levels of detection,” Regan commented. “I feel very confident that our technology is protecting public health.”
The EPA said in a <a href="https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=15933" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that “test results from the village’s municipal well sampling showed no water quality concerns” and noted that staff members conducted nearly 500 home screens as of Wednesday evening. Vance, however, <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX19Tricia/status/1626271882038153219" target="_blank" rel="noopener">challenged</a> Regan to prove his agency’s conviction.
“I think that if the EPA administrator wants to stand here and tell people that the tap water is safe,” the lawmaker asserted, “by all means, they should be willing to drink it.”
When questioned by reporters, Vance said he would personally refuse to rely upon the local water supply. “If I was living here, I would drink the bottled water for now. Better safe than sorry, especially because it’s being provided for free,” he continued. “That’s the advice I would give, and again, the residents are going to make their own decisions on this.”
The EPA also referred residents to a <a href="https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/east-palestine-water-quality-update-2152023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> shared by the office of Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH), which likewise said that tests conducted by the Ohio EPA show “no detection of contaminants in raw water from the five wells that feed into East Palestine’s municipal water system” and added that the agency is “confident that the municipal water is safe to drink.”
Residents have mentioned a lingering smell in the air, deceased wildlife and farm animals, and various health problems. One first responder said in an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unlike-anything-i-have-ever-seen-ohio-first-responder-says-residents-suffer-from-health-issues-after-train-derailment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with The Daily Wire that he and his colleagues experienced “bad cough, headaches, sore throat, and diarrhea” after assisting community members impacted by the derailment.
Beyond the release of vinyl chloride, Norfolk Southern <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/company-responsible-for-ohio-train-derailment-issues-list-of-cancer-causing-substances-released" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> the EPA that a number of other volatile chemicals were present at the derailment site. One train car containing ethylene glycol monobutyl ether currently has an “unknown status,” according to Norfolk Southern, while the amount of ethylhexyl acrylate in another car is still “pending.” The EPA issued the full list of substances present at the site after residents were told they could safely return to their homes.
Vance <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-are-ruled-by-unserious-people-j-d-vance-and-tucker-carlson-blast-establishment-for-ignoring-ohio-train-derailment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contended</a> that residents of East Palestine are victims of the misplaced priorities of Biden administration officials such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who did not address the train crash for more than a week after it occurred but appeared at the National Association of Counties Conference to comment on racial equity in the construction sector.

Sen. McConnell Meets With Newly Elected GOP Senators On Capitol Hill

‘They Should Be Willing To Drink It’: EPA Administrator Says Water Is Safe After Ohio Train Crash, J.D. Vance Invites Him To Take A Sip

J.D. Vance Challenges EPA To Try A Glass Of Tap Water In East Palestine After Train Crash

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jd-vance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J.D. Vance</a> (R-OH) criticized members of the <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/biden-administration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden administration</a> and the <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/mainstream-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mainstream media</a> for paying insufficient attention to the East Palestine, <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/ohio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ohio</a>, train <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ohio-train-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">derailment</a> and the controlled burn of chemicals potentially threatening the health of millions in the heartland.
Local and state authorities evacuated all residents within one mile of the crash and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/evacuation-ordered-ohio-governor-warns-major-explosion-could-send-shrapnel-a-mile-from-derailed-train" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started</a> a controlled burn of spilled industrial chemicals to decrease the risk of an explosion. Vinyl chloride, a carcinogen that can contaminate water supplies, was released from five train cars in the form of massive plumes of dark smoke visible throughout eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, raising concerns about air and water quality in the Ohio River Basin.
Vance, a newly elected member of the Senate, commented during an <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6320355916112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Monday that residents of East Palestine are victims of the incompetence and misplaced priorities of officials such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
“We have had hundreds of train derailments after we spent over $1 trillion on infrastructure in this country, so the fact that this isn’t getting obviously better is a major indictment of the people spending the money and what they’re spending the money on,” Vance remarked. “Now we know, if you listen to Secretary Buttigieg today, that they are focused more on whether we have too many white men in construction jobs than he is on the fundamentals of his job, which is ensuring we have a viable transportation infrastructure in this country.”
Buttigieg was indeed silent on the train derailment for more than one week after the incident and several days after the controlled burn. He nevertheless appeared at the National Association of Counties Conference on Monday to discuss matters such as racial equity in the construction sector. The former presidential contender eventually <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ilhan-omar-pushes-buttigieg-for-direct-action-after-ohio-train-derailment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">addressed</a> the crisis in a social media statement after facing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hasnt-said-a-word-republicans-slam-pete-buttigieg-for-silence-after-ohio-train-derailment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pressure</a> from elected Democrats and Republicans.
“My constituents in East Palestine have been some of the main victims of the fact that we have failing infrastructure in our country after spending tons of money in an effort to actually fix it,” Vance continued. “We are ruled by unserious people who are worried about fake problems instead of the real fact that our country is falling apart in some of the most important ways.”
Vance noted that legacy media outlets have devoted minimal amounts of attention to the crisis. He asserted that they are already prone to neglecting the problems faced by middle America, adding that many reporters are unwilling to press government agencies and other institutions about the potential scope of the disaster. Legacy networks ABC, CBS, and NBC spent less than half an hour covering the train derailment between February 4 and February 14, according to an <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/bill-dagostino/curtis-houck/2023/02/14/networks-abandoned-ohio-train-disaster-despite-continued-fallout" target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis</a> from the Media Research Center.
“I think that the entire country, the media complex, the leaders of this country, have decided to disregard the people of East Palestine,” he said. “If you look at the way that this story has been covered, if it’s been covered at all, it’s about how there are poor people in East Palestine who have been victimized by this disaster. Well of course that’s true, but you want journalists asking tough questions about what’s going on.”
Vance also expressed frustration that he has been unable to receive transparent information from government agencies, including details on the amount of vinyl chloride that can render water undrinkable. “I’ve been trying to get an answer to that question for days. I haven’t been able to get an answer to it,” he continued. “We unfortunately don&#8217;t have a media that is actually interested in asking those questions and answering them.”

Josh Hawley Joins GOP Senate Candidate JD Vance On Ohio Campaign Trail

‘We Are Ruled By Unserious People’: J.D. Vance And Tucker Carlson Blast Establishment For Ignoring Ohio Train Derailment

J.D. Vance And Tucker Carlson Blast Establishment For Ignoring Ohio Train Derailment

Biden Administration

Legacy Media

Tucker Carlson

A train containing hazardous materials derailed early on Monday morning near Splendora, <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas</a>, less than two weeks after a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/ohio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ohio</a>, derailed and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ohio-train-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spilled</a> industrial chemicals.
A semi-truck crashed with a Union Pacific train near the intersection of Highway 59 and Midline Road, according to a <a href="https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/local/2023/02/13/443601/houston-area-crash-between-truck-union-pacific-train-kills-driver-derails-20-plus-rail-cars/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from Houston Public Media, causing 21 train cars to derail. Splendora Police Department officials said in a social media <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SplendoraPD/posts/pfbid0o59Mt8SCj3k8Wjq3EiNFNe8EPAt2GudKADQ2EdnDE5GvZaZMfovxFAK9UqGqz2MUl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that the truck driver was deceased when first responders arrived on the scene.
Union Pacific spokesperson Robynn Tysver confirmed with The Daily Wire that the company sent a hazardous material crew to examine the crashed train, which was carrying chemical products intended for retail. Although the train spilled 100 gallons of diesel fuel, none of the chemical substances were released. The derailment, in which no train crew members were injured, is presently under investigation.
“The train was hauling household chemicals, including paint and aerosol cans. There were no releases,” Tysver said. “Railroads are required by federal law to transport the chemicals and other hazardous commodities that our customers produce and Americans use daily, including fertilizer, ethanol, crude oil, and chlorine. Railroads are the safest mode of transportation.”
Splendora Police Department officials said in another <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SplendoraPD/posts/pfbid06js4mkNbDB6GbDQLAvpBWWUEQpbQLMBuhSU5dEQUGnuTKgtMZUZeJcUSx9QUmJ7El" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that Midline Road would be reopened for residents on Tuesday morning, while Highway 59 would remain closed as authorities repair tracks, clean the roadway, and remove rail cars.
The incident in Texas follows another derailment in Ohio, where a malfunctioning axle on a Norfolk Southern train caused the vehicle to derail and leak volatile chemicals. Local and state authorities evacuated all residents within one mile of the February 3 crash and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/evacuation-ordered-ohio-governor-warns-major-explosion-could-send-shrapnel-a-mile-from-derailed-train" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started</a> a controlled burn of the chemicals to decrease the risk of an explosion. Vinyl chloride, a carcinogen that can contaminate water supplies, was released from five train cars in the form of massive plumes of dark smoke visible throughout eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Emergency personnel and citizens who did not evacuate are experiencing symptoms such as sore throats, coughing, headaches, and diarrhea in the days after the controlled burn, according to one first responder <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unlike-anything-i-have-ever-seen-ohio-first-responder-says-residents-suffer-from-health-issues-after-train-derailment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interviewed</a> by The Daily Wire on Tuesday.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers have expressed concern over the Ohio derailment and have called for investigations. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who was criticized for not responding to the incident for more than a week, confirmed in a Monday evening <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/no-one-is-buying-it-buttegieg-statement-on-train-derailment-falls-flat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that the National Transportation Safety Board is examining the crash. He added that his agency will “use all relevant authorities to ensure accountability and continue to support safety.”
Beyond the release of vinyl chloride, Norfolk Southern <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/company-responsible-for-ohio-train-derailment-issues-list-of-cancer-causing-substances-released" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> the EPA that a number of other volatile industrial chemicals were released at the derailment site. One train car containing ethylene glycol monobutyl ether currently has an “unknown status,” according to Norfolk Southern, while the amount of ethylhexyl acrylate in another car is still “pending.”
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) called for long-term studies of the disaster after noting a “troubling trend of catastrophic infrastructure problems in our country, and more than a few reports of sabotage.” The lawmaker said in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/j-d-vance-calls-for-answers-after-ohio-train-derailment-notes-alarming-reports-he-received" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that he has “heard alarming anecdotes about contaminated waterways and effects on wildlife.”

Exploring California Southern Desert

Train Carrying Hazardous Materials Derailed In Texas Days After Ohio Incident

Train Carrying Hazardous Materials Derailed In Texas Shortly After Ohio Incident

Texas

Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jd-vance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J.D. Vance</a> (R-OH) called for answers on Monday over the environmental hazards induced by a Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/ohio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ohio</a>, earlier this month.
The derailment, which occurred on February 3, started a fire that lasted for several days. Local and state officials moved to evacuate all residents within one mile of the crash and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/evacuation-ordered-ohio-governor-warns-major-explosion-could-send-shrapnel-a-mile-from-derailed-train" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started</a> a controlled burn of the chemicals to lower the risk of an explosion. Vinyl chloride, a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/company-responsible-for-ohio-train-derailment-issues-list-of-cancer-causing-substances-released" target="_blank" rel="noopener">carcinogen</a> that can contaminate water supplies, was released from five train cars in the form of massive plumes of dark smoke that were visible in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Vance, who was inaugurated to his first term in the Senate last month, said in a <a href="https://www.vance.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-vance-issues-statement-on-east-palestine-train-derailment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that his office will investigate reports from citizens of East Palestine with respect to environmental and health impacts from the controlled burn. “While those plumes of smoke are now gone, many questions remain,” he commented. “We continue to monitor environmental reports from multiple agencies about the quality of the air and water in the region. I have heard alarming anecdotes about contaminated waterways and effects on wildlife.”
Norfolk Southern, as well as state and federal environmental authorities, have not identified concerns with the water supply after they conducted drinking water tests. The Ohio Department of Agriculture said in a statement provided to The Daily Wire that the “food supply is safe and the risk to livestock remains low,” adding that the agency has not “received any official reports regarding the wellness of animals related to the incident.”
Vance said his team has been in contact with local, state, and federal agencies; he called on FEMA to provide resources for first responders handling fallout from the incident. “These firefighters deserve our gratitude for their heroism; they also deserve equipment they need for their jobs,” Vance remarked. “Local officials have also consistently encouraged me to ensure appropriate environmental testing continues. I am focused on that as well. My office will continue to engage with people on the ground, and deal with issues as they arise.”
Beyond the release of vinyl chloride, Norfolk Southern warned the EPA that a number of other volatile industrial chemicals were released at the derailment site. One train car containing ethylene glycol monobutyl ether currently has an “unknown status,” according to Norfolk Southern, while the amount of ethylhexyl acrylate in another car is still “pending.” The former substance can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, while the latter has been identified as a carcinogen in laboratory experiments.
Vance called for long-term studies of the disaster after noting a “troubling trend of catastrophic infrastructure problems in our country, and more than a few reports of sabotage.” The remark comes as Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives rebuke Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for remaining silent on the derailment for more than one week.
The derailment indeed follows a Chinese spy balloon traversing the continental United States, the Federal Aviation Administration grounding all flights due to an outage, Congress enacting an emergency intervention to halt a nationwide rail strike, and a holiday travel meltdown from Southwest Airlines. Buttigieg was previously slammed for taking months of paid leave after he and his husband adopted twins, even as supply chain bottlenecks severely <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/transportation-secretary-pete-buttigieg-has-been-on-paid-leave-for-months-amid-supply-chain-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">constrained</a> the American economy, worsening inflationary pressures.

J.D. Vance Calls For Answers After Ohio Train Derailment, Notes ‘Alarming’ Reports He Received

J.D. Vance Calls For Answers After Ohio Train Derailment

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