WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, issued the following news release on Feb. 16, 2023: Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement regarding Norfolk Southern's decision to expand the geographic area for reimbursement related to the February 3 train derailment in East Palestine: In response to the letter to Norfolk Southern's CEO earlier this week, the company announced today that it is expanding the geographic area eligible for reimbursements and other costs   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, issued the following news release on Feb. 16, 2023: Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) led the Ohio U.S. House and U.S. Senate delegation letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urging federal assistance with the cleanup of the train derailment and subsequent chemical fire that occurred in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3: "Despite the severity of the wreckage, release of chemicals, and the disruption to the lives of local reside  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release and letter: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) sent a letter to Governor Mike DeWine calling on him to officially declare a disaster in East Palestine and seek the full support of the federal government to bolster the state of Ohio's ongoing clean-up efforts. "A man-made disaster of this scale, scope, and significance necessitates a response and deployment of resources that are commensurate in scale and scope.   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release and letter: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) visited East Palestine with EPA Administrator Michael Regan to hear from East Palestine residents, visit the derailment site and meet with emergency responders. "I'm here today to listen the people this disaster is hurting the most - the residents of East Palestine and the surrounding communities. My office and I are exploring every option. Since the day of the der  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release and letter: U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and J.D. Vance (R-OH) and U.S. Representatives Bill Johnson (R-OH-06) and Emilia Sykes (D-OH-13) sent a letter to the Honorable Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requesting they act immediately to provide additional assistance and  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), released a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealing extensive privatization and consolidation of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), the panels that review drug studies and other research involving human subjects to ensure they are safe and ethical. The GAO report raised concern  more

CINCINNATI, Ohio, Feb. 17 -- Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, issued the following statement on Feb. 16, 2023: * * * Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01) released the following statement announcing he has joined the House Pro-Choice Caucus. "Overturning Roe v. Wade has had devastating consequences for abortion access, birth control, and reproductive care. "From city halls to state legislatures to Congress, the right to bodily autonomy is under attack. "I will work with the House Pro-Choice Caucus t  more

CINCINNATI, Ohio, Feb. 17 -- Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, issued the following statement on Feb. 16, 2023: * * * Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01) released the following statement providing an update on the safety of water in Southwest Ohio and the train derailment in East Palestine. "Folks are understandably concerned, but here's what we've been told: Southwest Ohio's water is safe to drink. "Our office is in touch with the White House, Governor Mike DeWine, Congressman Bill Johnson, U.S. EP  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following statement on Feb. 16, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement on the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio which is 20 miles from the West Virginia border. "It has been 13 days since a Norfolk Southern train derailed causing a dangerous chemical fire and forcing residents to evacuate. I greatly appreciate the swift response of first responders and local and s  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Sen. Robert Casey Jr., D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release and letters: Six Members of Congress representing the areas impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment sent a letter to Norfolk Southern Corporation President and CEO Alan Shaw reminding the company that, as the carrier responsible for operating the derailed train, they have a legal and moral obligation to the residents of East Palestine, Ohio and Darlington Township, Pennsylvania. The Members  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release on Feb. 16, 2023: Last week, Representative Shontel Brown (OH-11) joined Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) in introducing the One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act. This bill would provide grants to establish holistic reentry centers that centralize housing, job training, mental health counseling, and other vital services in a single location. "Providing comprehensive reentry resources to peopl  more

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio, Feb. 17 -- Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes, D-Ohio, issued the following news release and letter: U.S. Representative Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13) joined U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rep. Bill Johnson (OH-06), Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, and Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel in East Palestine to discuss the latest updates on the Norfolk Southern train derailment. Rep. Sykes, the sole Ohio member serving on t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, issued the following news release and letter: The release of vinyl chloride and other chemicals into the air and ground surrounding East Palestine, Ohio raises serious environmental concerns and has long-term implications for the town and those living in the region. As investigators look into the cause of the February 3, 2023 derailment, additional questions are being raised regarding the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) regulatory ov  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Feb. 16, 2023: * * * Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chair of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, issued the following statement after President Biden announced Lael Brainard, Vice Chair and Governor of the Federal Reserve Board, was selected to lead President Biden's National Economic Council (NEC) and Jared Bernstein to   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, issued the following news release and letter on Feb. 16, 2023: Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Michael Regan expressing his concerns about the potential impact to Missouri over the train derailment and subsequent disaster unfolding in Ohio. "This is a terrible tragedy for that community and presents potential far-reaching safety hazards to those living and working d  more

UNION TOWNSHIP, Ohio, Feb. 17 -- Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, issued the following statement on Feb. 16, 2023: * * * Representative Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) released the following statement regarding the ongoing situation in East Palestine, Ohio, in the wake of the recent train derailment and explosion. "I'm thankful that no lives were lost in this unfortunate accident, but I am greatly concerned that this will have negative impacts on residents' health and livelihoods both now and in the foreseea  more