John,

Earlier this month, a train carrying explosive, cancer-causing chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio -- poisoning the air, water, and soil.

To prevent further explosions, officials burned the chemicals, creating fires that lasted days and released massive plumes of toxic gasses.

The hazardous chemicals also spilled into the Ohio River, which serves millions of people as a source for drinking water. Locally, thousands of fish, frogs, pets, and livestock died. People are still afraid for their safety after experiencing symptoms for weeks such as headaches, burning eyes, and nausea. Sadly, long-term health effects may not show up for a while, so the full effects are not yet clear.

This catastrophe was preventable. Rail unions and experts have been warning about such derailments due to the lack of governmental safety regulations.

So far, our federal government has often obliged the rail corporations that have lobbied to block needed safety measures and worker protections. For example, Trump rolled back safety requirements for trains carrying hazardous materials and appointed a former rail executive to head the Freight and Rail Administration who, in turn, allowed the industry to self-regulate.

Meanwhile, the rail industry has been raking in record profits. This includes rail giant Norfolk Southern, which owns the train that derailed in Ohio earlier this month, as well as a train that derailed last week near my district in Michigan.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, the Department of Transportation, and President Biden must do more to limit future derailments and hold the greedy rail industry accountable.

Please sign if you agree: Our federal government must do everything in its power to support the residents of East Palestine, Ohio and to prevent a disaster like this from happening ever again.

Ohio authorities declared the water safe in East Palestine, but this was initially based on data sampling paid for by Norfolk Southern, which experts said did not follow EPA requirements.

Unfortunately, my community has direct experience with corporate polluters poisoning us and colluding with state agencies to tell us we’re safe when we really aren’t.

Years ago, I had to personally test toxic petcoke piles on Detroit’s waterfront in order to demonstrate they were harming our health and to get them removed. As industrial polluters continue to poison my neighbors, I am still fighting alongside my district’s residents for clean air and water in our community and across the country.

The residents of East Palestine, Ohio deserve answers, including more rigorous independent testing. They need support in accessing safe water, medical care, long-term monitoring, a suspension in utility bill payments, and more.

To protect communities across the country, our federal government must require updated braking systems, updated classification and regulations of trains carrying hazardous materials, and paid sick leave for rail workers. The Biden administration can and must act immediately with executive orders and agency rulemaking.

As a fierce environmental justice advocate, I promise to continue the fight for clean air and water in Congress.

And I’m not backing down from the fight alongside rail workers to hold the rail industry accountable and demand better working conditions. Corporate greed is a disease in our country and I refuse to let corporations put profits over people and our environment.

Please sign if you agree: Our federal government must do everything in its power to regulate the multibillion dollar rail industry and require safety protections for workers and communities. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has an important role to play in making sure this never happens again.

Thank you.

In solidarity,

Rashida