As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session S. C. R. No. 8
2025-2026
Senators Weinstein, Cutrona
Cosponsors: Senators Antonio, Ingram, Craig, Smith
A C O N C U R R E N T R E S O L U T I O N
To urge the Congress of the United States to pass H.R.
971, known as The Reducing Accidents in Locomotives
(RAIL) Act.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF OHIO (THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING):
WHEREAS, In 2023, East Palestine, Ohio, experienced a
devastating train derailment that contaminated the area's air,
soil, and water with toxic chemicals; and
WHEREAS, The residents of East Palestine are still
experiencing the effects of the derailment and the chemical
contamination resulting from it; and
WHEREAS, More than 12,000 cities, towns, and villages in
the United States have rail tracks running through their
boundaries and, since 2020, more than 4,000 trains have derailed
in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Following the train derailment, Ohio's U.S.
Senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives
introduced bipartisan rail safety bills that failed to become
law. One of those bills was entitled the RAIL Act; and
WHEREAS, The RAIL Act was recently reintroduced in
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18 S. C. R. No. 8 Page 2
As Introduced
Congress. The RAIL Act will increase inspections on all trains,
strengthen safety placard requirements that assist emergency
responders in identifying hazardous materials, and increase
maximum penalties for violations of rail safety regulations; and
WHEREAS, The RAIL Act will direct the Secretary of
Transportation to promulgate new regulations to improve rail
safety based on the findings of an investigation conducted by
the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal
Railroad Administration; and
WHEREAS, The RAIL Act will require a minimum of two-person
crews for all Class I freight and passenger trains; and now
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 136th General
Assembly of the State of Ohio, urge the Congress of the United
States to pass H.R. 971, otherwise known as The RAIL Act, to
ensure the safety of American families and prevent future
tragedies; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly
authenticated copies of this resolution to the President Pro
Tempore and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker
and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the
members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, and the news media
of Ohio.
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