PAUL WELL, MY SHANNON CASEY IS ALREADY A CO-SPONSOR OF THE BIPARTISAN RAILWAY SAFETY ACT, BUT HE IS SEEKING ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION THAT WOULD QUICKLY GET FUNDS TO FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH HAZMAT DERAILMENTS LIKE THE ONE WE SAW IN EAST PALESTINE. THE DERAILMENT IN EAST PALESTINE WAS COSTLY NOT ONLY FOR RESIDENTS BUT ALSO FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. SANDERS SENATOR BOB CASEY SAYS HIS LEGISLATION WOULD ENSURE THAT FIRST RESPONDERS GET FUNDS QUICKLY TO PAY OVERTIME AND REPLACE EQUIPMENT. WE NEED LEGISLATION WHERE WE CAN CREATE A NEW FUND PAID FOR BY THE RAIL COMPANIES THAT WOULD ALLOW NOT JUST REIMBURSE AMOUNT OF COSTS, BUT BUT REIMBURSE. THAT WOULD BE EXPEDITIOUS. HIS BILL WOULD ALLOW THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION TO DECLARE A HAZARDOUS RAIL EVENT, ALLOWING FIRST RESPONDERS TO OBTAIN THOSE FUNDS. A FIREFIGHTER WHO RESPONDED TO EAST PALESTINE SAYS THAT’S CRITICAL. IF THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS LOST EQUIPMENT IS NOT DONE SO QUICKLY. ANYONE THAT HAS AN EMERGENCY AFTERWARDS, THEY MAY MAY BE THE ONES THAT SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES. IN A NEWS CONFERENCE IN DARLINGTON TOWNSHIP, WHICH WAS IMPACTED BY THE EAST PALESTINE DERAILMENT, CASEY ACCUSED NORFOLK SOUTHERN OF FAILING TO LIVE UP TO ITS PROMISES. THEY PROMISED A LOT OF MONEY AND WE HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET. SO I’M SICK AND TIRED OF WAITING FOR NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO DELIVER ON ITS PROMISES TO THE PEOPLE OF A DARLINGTON TOWNSHIP, A NORFOLK SOUTHERN SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE RAILROAD HAS ALREADY DELIVERED. $1 BILLION TO FIRST RESPONDER ORDERS IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE RAILROAD HAS COMMITTED A TOTAL OF $7 MILLION.
Sen. Casey calls for rail safety fund aimed at first responders after East Palestine derailment
![WTAE logo]()
Updated: 6:11 PM EDT Apr 21, 2023
Sen. Bob Casey was in Beaver County Friday pushing for rail safety bills following the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February.The derailment in East Palestine was costly not only for residents but also for first responders.Pennsylvania senior senator Bob Casey said his legislation would ensure that first responders get funds quickly to pay overtime and replace equipment."We need legislation where we can create a new fund, paid for by the rail companies, that would allow not just reimbursement of costs, but reimbursement that would be expeditious," Casey said.His bill would allow the Federal Railroad Administration to declare a hazardous rail event allowing first responders to obtain those funds.A firefighter who responded to East Palestine says that's critical.“If the replacement of this lost equipment is not done so quickly, anyone that has an emergency afterwards, they may be the ones that suffer the consequences,” Deputy Chief David Seidl of the Beaver Falls Fire Department said.In a news conference in Darlington Township, which was impacted by the East Palestine derailment, Casey accused Norfolk Southern of failing to live up to its promises.“They promised a lot of money, and we haven't seen it yet, " he said. "So I'm sick and tired of waiting for Norfolk Southern to deliver on its promises to the people of Darlington Township.”
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Sen. Bob Casey was in Beaver County Friday pushing for rail safety bills following the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February.
The derailment in East Palestine was costly not only for residents but also for first responders.
Pennsylvania senior senator Bob Casey said his legislation would ensure that first responders get funds quickly to pay overtime and replace equipment.
"We need legislation where we can create a new fund, paid for by the rail companies, that would allow not just reimbursement of costs, but reimbursement that would be expeditious," Casey said.
His bill would allow the Federal Railroad Administration to declare a hazardous rail event allowing first responders to obtain those funds.
A firefighter who responded to East Palestine says that's critical.
“If the replacement of this lost equipment is not done so quickly, anyone that has an emergency afterwards, they may be the ones that suffer the consequences,” Deputy Chief David Seidl of the Beaver Falls Fire Department said.
In a news conference in Darlington Township, which was impacted by the East Palestine derailment, Casey accused Norfolk Southern of failing to live up to its promises.
“They promised a lot of money, and we haven't seen it yet, " he said. "So I'm sick and tired of waiting for Norfolk Southern to deliver on its promises to the people of Darlington Township.”
