EAST PALESTINE, OH – Earlier today, Congressman Mike Rulli welcomed Vice President J.D. Vance, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and other Ohio elected officials to Ohio’s Sixth District to mark the solemn two-year anniversary of the East Palestine train derailment disaster—a catastrophe that should have never happened and one that was made even worse by the previous administration’s utter disregard for the people of Ohio.
The February 3, 2023 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals led to a controlled burn that sent deadly fumes into the air, leaving families terrified and communities shattered. Despite the pleas of local leaders, the Biden administration failed to act with the urgency the disaster demanded. Their Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, was nowhere to be found for weeks, finally appearing only after immense public pressure—and even then, he offered little more than empty rhetoric and bureaucratic excuses.
However, with a new administration in place, there is finally hope on the horizon. Congressman Rulli praised the immediate and proactive steps being taken by Administrator Zeldin and Vice President Vance, who have made it clear that East Palestine—and communities like it—will never be left behind again.
Congressman Rulli praised the swift and decisive action taken by Vice President Vance and Ohio leaders who refused to let the tragedy be swept under the rug. “J.D. Vance stood up when Washington failed. He called out the lies and demanded action. It is because of leaders like him that we’re finally seeing the kind of response East Palestine deserved from day one.”
Today’s visit serves as both a commemoration of the resilience of East Palestine and a stark reminder of the consequences of failed leadership. Congressman Rulli and Vice President Vance reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that no community is ever abandoned in the wake of disaster again.
“The people of East Palestine deserved better. They deserved honesty, action, and compassion—not excuses and political games,” Rulli concluded. “Let today be a message to every government official: Never again will we allow our communities to be treated as an afterthought.”
