Buckeye Reporter

EAST PALESTINE, OH – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) visited RBS Manufacturing in East Palestine to hear directly from local manufacturers about their ongoing concerns as they deal with the aftermath of the Norfolk Southern train derailment.

“This is the kind of community that’s so often forgotten or exploited by corporate America. I’m here for the long haul. We’re still going to be here as long as it takes to make sure residents get the support they need and that includes every manufacturer in Columbiana County and the surrounding area,” said Brown.

“We at RBS would like to thank Senator Brown for his time visiting East Palestine, OH and RBS, MFG. We appreciate his vested interest in Ohio Valley manufacturing. We look forward to working with Senator Brown to help the local businesses through a rather difficult time,” said Rick Severs, Vice President and General Manager of RBS Manufacturing.

Brown is working with members of both parties to secure resources for those harmed by the train derailment and to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for cleaning up the damage their corporate greed has caused to the community. During a Senate hearing, he testified on behalf of East Palestine residents in an effort to hold Norfolk Southern accountable. Brown has continued to press Norfolk Southern to keep its promises to make all of the Ohio communities it has damaged whole, and for all major railroad companies operating in Ohio to address concerns over crumbling infrastructure.

Brown has also led the push in East Palestine to address farmers’ agricultural priorities, pressing the United States Department of Agriculture to provide assistance. Brown has continued to advocate for continued health screenings. Senator Brown has also worked with Senator Vance to call on the EPA, CDC, and NIH, Brown to conduct long-term health monitoring and further research on the short and long-term health effects of the derailment in East Palestine.

Brown has been to East Palestinesix times to meet with Ohioans and respond to their needs. Since the derailment in East Palestine, Brown has visited Ohio communities who have suffered damage from recent Norfolk Southern derailments, and talked with local leaders about the need to improve rail safety and hold railroad companies accountable for the danger their cost-cutting poses to Ohioans Brown has visited communities across the state to meet with residents, local business owners, rail union workers, and officials to call for swift passage of his bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2023, to prevent more dangerous derailments. Last month, the legislation advanced out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on a strong bipartisan vote.

Original source can be found here.