ICYMI: Three Years After East Palestine Train Derailment, House Committee Advances Deluzio’s Railway Safety Act

CARNEGIE, PA - On May 21, 2026, Congressman Deluzio (PA-17) passed his bill, the Railway Safety Act, as part of the must-pass transportation bill, the BUILD America 250 Act. It passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on May 21, 2026, and now heads to the House floor for a vote. Congressman Deluzio joined the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in 2024 with the specific goal of passing strong rail safety legislation.

Congressman Deluzio represents the Western Pennsylvania region closest to and affected by the Norfolk Southern toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. He first introduced this bill in 2023 and has been leading the fight in the House for rail safety ever since. Congress has not passed any rail safety legislation since the February 2023 derailment, but the inclusion of the Railway Safety Act within the must-pass Build America 250 Act is the most momentum that the rail safety fight has seen in years. The bill was passed out of committee with broad support from both Democrats and Republicans, and was endorsed by President Trump and many rail worker unions.

"The people of Beaver County and East Palestine have waited long enough," said Congressman Deluzio. "I am so proud that my bill the Railway Safety Act passed out of committee with bipartisan support. Let's get this bill passed and on President Trump's desk-who promised he would sign it."

More details on the bill and its advancement are here.

What people are reading about the Railway Safety Act's passage out of Committee:

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Rail safety legislation finally moves through Congress 3 years after East Palestine derailment
• WESA: Deluzio rail-safety reforms find bipartisan support, advance to full House
• Washington Examiner: Chris Deluzio's Railway Safety Act gets a big boost from Trump and is finally out of committee
• Spotlight PA: Congress makes big push to improve rail safety 3 years after East Palestine disaster
• WTAE: Committee Advances Railway Safety Act
• WPXI: Railway Safety Act Introduced In 2023 Added to Big Transportation Bill
• WGAL: Committee Advances Railway Safety Act
• Transportation Today: Railway Safety Act added to BUILD America 250 legislation
• TrainsPRO: House panel attaches Railway Safety Act to broader transportation bill

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