Mahoning Valley & U.S. - Bipartisan efforts to implement new railroad safety measures following the fiery train derailment in East Palestine back in 2023 is getting another try in Congress.

Democratic Congresswoman Emilia Sykes along with Republican Congressman Mike Rulli introduced the Reducing Accidents In Locomotives (RAIL) Act on Tuesday in the hopes of preventing incidents similar to the East Palestine train derailment from happening again.

21 News caught up with Congresswoman Sykes about the new legislation to see how it differs from previous efforts to improve rail safety following the derailment.

Sykes described the RAIL Act as "a comprehensive bill to right the wrongs of what happened in East Palestine two years ago" and said the bill came into fruition after talking with residents of East Palestine.

"On my visits [to East Palestine] and in subsequent conversations, we heard from citizens of East Palestine essentially saying, 'we don't want this to happen to any other community. Don't allow our pain to happen in vain,'" Sykes said.

Sykes says the bill delves into the topics of safety detectors, placards indicating hazardous materials are in train cars, more accountability for the rail industry and two-person crew requirements on trains.

"Some of those trains can be mile-long [and] double-stacked and only a single person is responsible for that entire load. That is crazy. And so this would codify a [two-person crew] regulation [into federal law], but most importantly be a much safer way for trains to go in and out of our communities," Sykes said.

Sykes went on to say her biggest concern is that despite hearing concerns from people in East Palestine and across the country who live near train tracks, Congress has refused to act in response to those concerns.

Sykes added that previous attempts at rail safety legislation had stalled in every chamber in every step blaming the rail industry for the holdup on getting this legislation passed.

"They decided to put their profits over the people in my community, over the people in East Palestine [and] over the people of the United States of America, and they were able to get to Speaker [Mike] Johnson, to get to the Republicans, to get to the majority and say 'we don't want this legislation,'" Sykes said.

When asked about the chances of this new legislation passing, Sykes said she is optimistic, noting that Vice President J.D. Vance was a co-sponsor of the original rail safety legislation during his time in the U.S. Senate.

"We were hoping because [Vance] was a bill sponsor that he would come out very strongly with the full backing of the administration. He sort of did that, but I wish they would be a little bit stronger. He has the bully pulpit of the presidency and the vice presidency and he can really help people in East Palestine and all across this country," Sykes said.

You can watch our entire interview with Congresswoman Sykes in the video player above.