Deluzio, LaLota, Rulli, and Garamendi Introduce Bipartisan Railway Safety Bill on Second Anniversary of Toxic Derailment

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two years to the day of the Norfolk Southern train derailment, Congressmembers Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Nick LaLota (R-NY-01), Michael Rulli (R-OH-06), and John Garamendi (D-CA-08) rolled out their bipartisan railway safety legislation of 2025, the Railway Safety Act. Building off the 2023 version, this updated proposal includes a requirement that the Congress is regularly updated on the status of the implementation of the safety recommendations in the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) final report on the derailment. Congressmen Deluzio and Rulli both represent the constituents directly impacted by the derailment—in Beaver County, PA and East Palestine, OH, respectively.  

“It’s been two years since Norfolk Southern’s disastrous derailment in East Palestine, and communities that are close to the tracks are no safer now than they were on the day of that terrifying derailment,” said Congressman Deluzio, Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials subcommittee member. “We know we cannot trust the big railroads to regulate themselves. That’s why this Congress we have to pass strong rail safety requirements and implement the safety recommendations from the NTSB. We have a bipartisan solution on the table, and now is the time for all who are serious about protecting our communities to step up. I refuse to let communities like ours in Western PA get treated like collateral damage in the way of corporate profits.”   

"The Railway Safety Act of 2025 is a decisive and essential measure to fortify rail safety and protect communities along our nation’s railways," said Representative Rulli. "By enshrining the Federal Railroad Administration’s two-person crew rule into law, we are reinforcing critical safety standards and ensuring that vital protections are permanently upheld. This bipartisan legislation underscores our unwavering commitment to preventing catastrophic derailments and delivering the security and peace of mind that every American deserves." 

"Two years since the disastrous Norfolk Southern train derailment, there is finally a bipartisan solution that puts the safety of Americans first,” said Representative Garamendi, a senior member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the Railway Safety Act, a crucial piece of legislation that will significantly enhance the safety standards for freight rail services. The faster Congress can pass this bipartisan bill, the safer our railways will be. I am committed to fighting for policies that will ensure that disasters like the East Palestine train derailment never happens again.” 

Building off the bipartisan 2023 version, the Railway Safety Act of 2025 would institute requirements for wayside defect detectors, increase fines for wrongdoing committed by rail carriers, enhance safety procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials, establish a permanent requirement for railroads to operate with at least two-person crews, and more. New in the 2025 version, this measure will also require the Secretary to report to Congress every two years on how they are implementing the recommendations put forth in the NTSB’s final report on the East Palestine Derailment. The full text of the Railway Safety Act of 2025 is available here. 

More specifically, The Railway Safety Act of 2023 would: 

Enhance safety procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials by:  

Reduce the risk of wheel bearing failures by:  

Force rail carriers to face heightened fines for wrongdoing by:  

Support communities impacted by rail disasters by:  

Invest in future safety improvements by:  

The Railway Safety Act is endorsed by a wide variety of organizations and labor unions, including the Transportation Workers Union (TWU), SMART-TD, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen-International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BLET), and Transportation Communications Union (TCU).  

“Congress has yet to take significant rail safety action two years since the tragic East Palestine derailment and subsequent environmental disaster. This bill 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,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “The TWU strongly endorses the Railway Safety Act and urges Congress to swiftly pass this bill.” 

“It’s well-past time to pass this crucial rail safety legislation – the people of East Palestine and rail workers deserve nothing less,” said Transportation Communications Union (TCU) National Legislative Director David Arouca, whose Carmen members are tasked with maintaining, inspecting and repairing rail cars. “Our members want one thing: to be allowed to do the job of performing safety inspections without threats or harassment from management – something every American should want and expect of the freight rail industry.”