President Joe Biden Commends ‘Herculean Efforts’ to Rebuild Site of Ohio Train Derailment
President Joe Biden visited East Palestine, Ohio, on Friday to witness the ongoing federal cleanup following a train derailment and explosive fire that occurred over a year ago. While acknowledging the community’s frustrations due to his delayed visit, the president praised the Herculean efforts of federal, state, and local governments in their extensive cleanup work. During his visit, Biden announced federal grants from the National Institutes of Health to study the short- and long-term effects of the incident. He placed blame on the railroad company, Norfolk Southern, for the preventable act of greed that led to the derailment.
Mentioning that the derailment was caused by an overheating bearing on one of the railcars, Biden emphasized the need for stronger protective measures for trains transporting hazardous materials. He urged Congress to pass legislation proposed by Ohio’s two U.S. senators to ensure enhanced safety precautions. Additionally, the president appealed to Congress to exempt individuals from paying federal taxes on compensation received from Norfolk Southern.
Despite some initial animosity from certain locals, President Biden vowed that the federal government would not leave until the job was fully completed and addressed the long-term health concerns of the community. During his visit, approximately 50 to 75 individuals held a counter-rally in support of former President Donald Trump, who had visited soon after the derailment occurred.
Mayor Trent Conaway, who had invited Biden despite not supporting him, stressed the importance of addressing the disaster and the village’s long-term growth. The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that the air, water, and soil in the community were now safe after conducting an extensive cleanup that removed over 176,000 tons of hazardous waste. Norfolk Southern stated that it had invested over $1.1 billion in response to the derailment, with $103.2 million specifically allocated to assisting the affected community.
Residents such as Misti Allison expressed their gratitude for President Biden’s visit, believing it to be a step toward receiving the federal government’s support. Allison and her family had evacuated their home following the accident and were concerned about the potential health effects of chemical exposure. She emphasized the importance of government assistance during such crises.
In his address, President Biden held Norfolk Southern accountable for the incident and expressed his commitment to preventing similar accidents from occurring in the future. He called for improved safety measures and stronger regulations for hazardous material transportation.
As Biden concluded his visit to East Palestine, it was evident that the community’s journey toward recovery still faced challenges, but the president’s presence offered a glimmer of hope for those affected.
