WASHINGTON, D.C. - Valley Congressman, Bill Johnson and Ohio Congresswoman, Emilia Strong-Sykes have joined to introduce bipartisan legislation to prevent future train derailment disasters similar to the recent derailment in East Palestine.

The Representatives introduced the Reducing Accidents In Locomotives (RAIL) Act, which would improve railroad safety operation in various ways.

The legislation would direct the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) in conjunction with the findings of the NTSB investigation to recommend changes to how the U.S.'s rail system operates from train length, weight to speed and track standards.

In addition, the legislation would increase funding for Hazardous Materials Training for first responders, increase maximum penalties for violations, increase inspections on all trains including those carrying hazardous materials and auditing federal rail inspection programs.

Ohio, which has one of the U.S.'s largest railroad networks ranks fourth in the country for serious train accidents and hazardous material spills 281 train accidents occurred in Ohio between 2019 and November of 2022.