“By using a balanced, data-driven approach to advancing rail safety, my bill would protect Ohio’s communities while supporting the freight rail industry across the country.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joins Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) in introducing the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2026. The bill would remove duplicative language and use real-time data to implement improvements to rail safety regulations.
“Three years ago, many Ohioans understandably lost faith in the safety and reliability of our nation’s railways after the accident in East Palestine, Ohio. Since then, we have learned valuable lessons about the necessity of extensive consultation with the rail industry, emergency responders and local communities. By using a balanced, data-driven approach to advancing rail safety, my bill would protect Ohio’s communities while supporting the freight rail industry across the country,” said Husted.
“The Railway Safety Act will make communities across the country safer. It has been over three years since the Norfolk Southern derailment disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, and it is past time for Congress to act. Our bill requires railroads to deploy technology that could have prevented the East Palestine derailment, holds large railroad companies accountable through stiffer fines and ensures that trains carrying hazardous materials are held to a higher safety standard,” said Cantwell.
“I’m proud to join Senator Husted and our colleagues across the aisle to continue the critical work of Vice President Vance and fight for Ohioans that DC politicians have left behind. We cannot allow a repeat of the tragedy in East Palestine and this bill is a step toward protecting our communities,” said Moreno.
“The derailment in East Palestine was a costly reminder about the risks associated with trains carrying hazardous materials. With all six of the country’s Class 1 railroads operating in Missouri, these trains crisscross our state, running through communities of all shapes and sizes. All Missourians deserve to feel confident that the trains passing through their backyards are up to the highest safety standards possible. This bipartisan bill strengthens rail safety by modernizing protections to prevent another accident and requiring railroads to notify state governments about the types and frequency of trains carrying hazardous materials across state lines,” said Schmitt.
“Railroads are vital to Kansas. They move our crops, power our economy, and connect our rural communities to the world. But with that responsibility comes a duty to operate safely. The Railway Safety Act incorporates lessons learned from the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and ensures stronger safeguards and meaningful accountability for violations,” said Marshall.
“The reintroduction of the Railway Safety Act is a critical and welcome step forward. Communities like mine know firsthand that rail safety is not a political issue. It is a public safety, environmental, and public health issue. When a train derails, it’s not just tracks and cargo that are affected but our air, water, soil, and the long-term health of families. We owe it to communities like East Palestine and to towns across this country to strengthen oversight, increase accountability, and ensure disasters like this never happen again,” said East Palestine resident and rail safety advocate Misti Allison.
“Just over three years ago, our country was rocked by a catastrophic train derailment that occurred in East Palestine, OH. Not only did that incident release an unforgettable mushroom cloud that could be seen from miles away, but it also contaminated the air, the soil, and the water of the village, causing the residents to suffer a multitude of medical conditions. However, despite the known causation and contributing factors to the derailment, the risk is still present as no meaningful change has taken place in the railroad industry, which is why we are extremely proud to endorse the Railway Safety Act and to offer our sincerest gratitude to Senators Jon Husted and Maria Cantwell for their willingness to change this dangerous trajectory and make rail safety a priority in the United States of America,” said Jared Cassity, National Safety & Legislative Director of the SMART Transportation Division.
“The Rail Safety Act would dramatically improve freight rail safety standards and hold greedy railroad executives accountable when they prioritize short-term profits over safety and hardworking TWU members. The TWU strongly endorses the Railway Safety Act and urges Congress to swiftly pass it,” said John Samuelsen, President of the Transport Workers Union.
“Our nation doesn’t need another rail disaster like what we all saw in East Palestine. Inaction by the rail industry since that derailment and fire three years ago demonstrates that we can’t trust that the major railroads will raise safety standards without action by Congress. The Class I railroads continue to move in the wrong direction by running longer trains, holding fewer and shorter inspections, and having an over-reliance on automation. This has increased safety risks for railroaders and the 80 million Americans who live near a Class I railroad track. Two-person train crews, modern braking systems, stronger and more frequent inspections, tougher penalties, and improved hazardous materials notification are essential to protecting railroad workers and the public. These reforms will only happen if Congress passes the Railway Safety Act of 2026. The members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have been seeking these needed reforms. We salute the sponsors of this important bipartisan legislation designed to keep train running safely across this great country, Ohio Senator Jon Husted and Washington State Senator Maria Cantwell. It also must be said that we would not have reached this point without the strong and continued commitment of Vice President J.D. Vance to reforming rail safety standards,” said Mark Wallace, National President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen-International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
“Counties across America are essential partners in enhancing the safety and efficiency of our nation’s freight rail infrastructure. The Railway Safety Act of 2026 takes critical steps to enhance rail safety, protect residents and ensure our transportation network supports both economic growth and public well-being. Counties urge Congress to swiftly pass this legislation on a bipartisan basis,” said Matthew Chase, Executive Director of the National Association of Counties.
“The chemical distribution industry relies on an efficient and safe rail system to deliver the products essential to everyday life. For far too long, our members have faced deteriorating service and a reduced rail workforce that have led to operational challenges for shippers large and small. ACD applauds Sens. Husted and Cantwell for introducing the Railway Safety Act, recognizing that further improvements need to be made in the industry, particularly at a time when two of the largest Class I railroad companies are proposing a massive merger. The freight rail industry must be held accountable for its failures, and reforms are long overdue,” said Eric R. Byer, President and CEO of Alliance for Chemical Distribution.
“When rail safety falls short and a train derails, local communities bear the immediate burden of protecting residents, evacuating homes and deploying first responders. Americans with rail in their communities should not have to worry if they will be the site of the next rail disaster. We thank the leaders in Congress for reintroducing the bipartisan Railway Safety Act and for working to put it on the President’s desk before another catastrophic derailment like East Palestine happens again,”said Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities.
“As America’s largest transportation labor federation, proudly representing the nation’s skilled freight rail workers, we have continually sought federal legislative and regulatory action on commonsense rail safety measures. We commend Senators Jon Husted (R-OH) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) for leading re-introduction of the bipartisan Railway Safety Act and Senators Bernie Moreno (R-OH), John Fetterman (D-PA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for being original cosponsors. It’s unacceptable that communities across the country have endured more than 3,100 derailments since the 2023 toxic Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Rail workers and communities living near railroad tracks deserve the peace of mind that Congress will take action on commonsense reforms and move us towards a safer rail network,” said Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO.
“IAM Rail Division members see firsthand the consequences of precision-scheduled railroading and Wall Street-driven cost cutting that have hollowed out safety practices across this industry. This legislation restores common-sense safety standards by ensuring that trained, qualified railroaders — not the lowest-cost alternative — are performing critical inspections. Our members have been raising these concerns for years. Congress must move swiftly to advance this bill and put safety ahead of corporate profits,” said Josh Hartford, Special Assistant to the International President for the IAM Rail Division.
“I’d like to thank this bipartisan group of Senators for introducing the Railway Safety Act in the Senate. TCU has been advocating for this legislation for years. It’s time for Congress to act and pass this bill to not only ensure our members can perform the jobs they are trained to do, but to improve the safety and reduce the risk of another East Palestine for every community that our trains roll through,” said Matt Hollis, National President of the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM).
“This legislation is important to every Carman at every Class I railroad. Every safety-sensitive industry knows how important it is to have the right person doing the right job. This bill does just that. Right this minute we have unsafe trains that have not been properly inspected rolling through communities. Statistically, it is very likely that either today or tomorrow there will be a derailment in this country that could’ve been prevented if our Carmen are simply allowed to do their job. That should scare the hell out of everyone. It’s time for Congress to step in,” said Don Grissom, Division General President of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen.
“On the ground, our members are being pressured every day to rush inspections or allow trains to depart with known defects. The Railway Safety Act reinforces what railroaders have always known: thorough inspections by skilled Carmen and Machinists save lives and prevent disasters. Congress must act to protect railroad workers and the communities we serve,” said Reece Murtagh, President and Directing General Chair of IAM District 19.
“IAM Rail Division members see firsthand the consequences of precision-scheduled railroading and Wall Street-driven cost cutting that have hollowed out safety practices across this industry. This legislation restores common-sense safety standards by ensuring that trained, qualified railroaders — not the lowest-cost alternative — are performing critical inspections. Our members have been raising these concerns for years. Congress must move swiftly to advance this bill and put safety ahead of corporate profits,” said Josh Hartford, Special Assistant to the International President for the IAM Rail Division.
“I’d like to thank this bipartisan group of Senators for introducing the Railway Safety Act in the Senate. He added, “TCU has been advocating for this legislation for years. It’s time for Congress to act and pass this bill to not only ensure our members can perform the jobs they are trained to do, but to improve the safety and reduce the risk of another East Palestine for every community that our trains roll through,” said Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) National President Matt Hollis.
“This legislation is important to every Carman at every Class I railroad. Every safety-sensitive industry knows how important it is to have the right person doing the right job. This bill does just that. Right this minute we have unsafe trains that have not been properly inspected rolling through communities. Statistically, it is very likely that either today or tomorrow there will be a derailment in this country that could’ve been prevented if our Carmen are simply allowed to do their job. That should scare the hell out of everyone. It’s time for Congress to step in,” said said Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division General President Don Grissom.
“On the ground, our members are being pressured every day to rush inspections or allow trains to depart with known defects. The Railway Safety Act reinforces what railroaders have always known: thorough inspections by skilled Carmen and Machinists save lives and prevent disasters. Congress must act to protect railroad workers and the communities we serve,” said Reece Murtagh, IAM District 19 President and Directing General Chair.
In February 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Following the crash, railcars containing hazardous chemicals burned for more than two days.
In response to the accident and public demand for rail safety improvements, then-Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) led the Railway Safety Act in the 118th Congress. Husted and Cantwell’s Railway Safety Act of 2026 reflects the bipartisan language supported by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee last Congress by:
- Improving emergency response by notifying states about the hazardous materials being transported by rail through their communities and strengthening railroad emergency response plans.
- Ensuring firefighters are made whole after responding to major derailments. The Department of Transportation can reimburse first responders for overtime, equipment costs and health care assessments.
- Expanding the existing Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grants to allow fire departments to purchase the personal protective gear that keeps them safe.
- Mandating the use of defect detection technology to make railroads stop trains when something is wrong which could have prevented the East Palestine derailment. The bill requires hotbox detectors to be deployed an average of every 15 miles, compared to every 25 miles currently.
- Expanding the list of hazardous materials that are subject to higher safety standards, like vinyl chloride carried by the East Palestine train, and require speed restrictions, better braking and route risk analysis.
- Preventing improper railcar inspections and mandates a new requirement that ensures railcars are properly maintained.
- Requiring two crewmembers to operate a train to prevent a situation where only one person is on the train in an emergency.
The introduction of the Railway Safety Act of 2026 builds on Husted’s longstanding support for the people of East Palestine and rail safety legislation.
In November 2025, Husted joined Vice President Vance, Sen. Moreno (R-Ohio), Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), Rep. Mike Rulli (R-Ohio), Youngstown State University President Bill Johnson, Village of East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway and Norfolk Southern Railway Company President and CEO Mark George to announce plans for a new first responder training facility in East Palestine.
In June 2025, Husted, along with Vice President Vance and Health and Human Services Sec. Robert Kennedy, launched a $10 million research initiative to assess and address the long-term health outcomes stemming from the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
In May 2025, Husted, during an Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, detailed the importance of preventing another incident like the East Palestine train derailment.
In February 2025, Husted welcomed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to East Palestine, Ohio. This was Zeldin’s first trip after his confirmation as EPA Administrator.
In 2023, as Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, Husted wrote a letter to Norfolk Southern CEO encouraging him to “champion all good faith efforts to improve rail safety.”
Full text of the bill is available here.