While the Biden administration remains silent on the derailment of a train carrying toxic substances in Ohio, the GOP has already taken action. Mainly, the Republican criticism is directed at Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who oversees the sector responsible for the incident and, eleven days later, has not uttered a single word.
J.D. Vance, a Republican senator from Ohio, issued a statement questioning the attitude of the Democratic Party and called for the government to get to the bottom of the issue in order to prevent similar accidents in the future:
Why did this happen? After the cleanup and safety of everyone is ensured, we will turn our attention to how to prevent this in the future. Many questions remain unanswered about the quality of the braking system used, the durability of the repair parts in the trains, and the Transportation Department's regulatory approach to our nation's rail system. Aside from this incident, there is a troubling trend of catastrophic infrastructure problems in our country, and more than a few reports of sabotage. My office will be investigating these concerns in the weeks to come.
Vance asks for public cooperation and thanks the firefighters for their work
Concern is growing daily about the extent of the toxic material spill for the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, where the derailment occurred. Despite the reassurance from the agencies working on the accident, J.D. Vance asked for the cooperation of the public to counteract the possible harmful effects:
Is the air and water safe for residents? So far, we have been told that air and drinking water tests performed by the state and federal Environmental Protection Agencies, the Ohio National Guard, and Norfolk Southern have been encouraging. We continue to monitor environmental reports from multiple agencies about the quality of the air and water in the region. I have heard alarming anecdotes about contaminated waterways and effects on wildlife. I encourage anyone with credible reports of environmental harms to contact my office. In the meantime, we will continue to engage with the relevant agencies and monitor the situation in the region. The Republican senator thanked firefighters for their hard work and requested resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
The local fire department has borne the brunt of this catastrophe, and they need resources from FEMA to decontaminate equipment and ensure they continue to operate. These firefighters deserve our gratitude for their heroism; they also deserve equipment they need for their jobs. My office will continue to work with FEMA to ensure these firefighters get what they need. Local officials have also consistently encouraged me to ensure appropriate environmental testing continues. I am focused on that as well. My office will continue to engage with people on the ground, and deal with issues as they arise.
