The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee voted 16-11 to advance a bill, aimed at improving rail safety, that was born out of the February Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Although the bill was touted as a “bipartisan” response — Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown introduced it with Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance, and it has since gained support from former President Donald Trump — the markup laid bare the limits of bipartisanship as some Republicans said they doubt the need for more rail regulations.
“I remain concerned this bill is overly and needlessly prescriptive in certain places … I’m very concerned about giving broad authority to the Biden administration,” said ranking Republican Ted Cruz of Texas. “President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg would have a free hand to aggressively restrict the movement of coal, oil, natural gas and other essential commodities.”
