COLUMBIANA, OH – Last Saturday, July 19th, Congressman Mike Rulli (R-OH-06) and Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) hosted local rail union leadership, workers, and other stakeholders at a rail safety roundtable in Columbiana. The roundtable came in direct response to growing outrage over a dangerous proposal by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) that would lessen visual track inspection requirements and delay repairs of known defects by up to 72 hours. Local labor leaders sounded the alarm, warning that such changes would endanger workers and communities across America.
“We’ve seen what happens when the railroads put profits before people and we’re still living with the consequences,” said Congressman Rulli. “What happened in East Palestine should’ve been a wake-up call. Instead, these companies want to cut back even more: fewer inspections, fewer workers, more risk. Not on my watch.”
Both Congressman Rulli and Congressman Deluzio voiced deep concern about the push to remove the human element from rail safety. They stood firmly with labor in rejecting the idea that technology can replace trained professionals. President Caldwell and union leaders made it clear: innovation must support, not substitute, skilled human inspections. Lives depend on it.
“Nearly two and half years after the Norfolk Southern train derailment, guys like me and Rep. Rulli are not giving up on the fight to make rail safer,” said Congressman Deluzio. “I refuse to let my community and workers be treated like collateral damage in the way of railroad profits. Our roundtable discussion with union rail workers, union representatives, and community leaders was productive; rest assured we have the fire in our bellies to see this fight through.”
Attendees at the event included Tony Caldwell (National President of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division – BMWED), Mike Carreon (Chairman of the Darlington Township Board of Commissioners), and other representatives and workers from BMWED, the Teamsters Rail Conference, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), and Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC).
Congressmen Rulli and Deluzio reiterated their commitment to advancing rail safety legislation and outlined the complex legislative landscape through which these bills must be navigated in order to secure passage. Both members highlighted the need for Congress to pass H.R. 928, their bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2025. That BMWED endorsed legislation would make important improvements to rail safety and address some of the issues highlighted in the East Palestine derailment.
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