After laying low in the wake of the disastrous East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment, Norfolk Southern is back to spending millions in Congress — and a paper trail indicates that it’s lobbying for weaker regulation and rewarding members of Congress who play along.
From the day of the derailment on February 3 through the end of April, the company made no political contributions, instead receiving refunds of donations it had made to a number of campaigns. But as the national spotlight dimmed, the company got back to work.
In the last four months, Norfolk spent $1,657,500 on lobbyists who met with the same elected officials tasked with regulating the company. And in June and July alone, the company shelled out almost $200,000 to a myriad of congressional campaigns and political action committees, or PACs, according to its recent filings with the Federal Election Commission, including one from this week.
As Norfolk went on a spending spree, the Bipartisan Railway Safety Act stalled in the Senate, due to a lack of sufficient Republican support. The legislation was introduced after the derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals in East Palestine, killing animals and leaving residents with an array of ongoing symptoms, including rashes, stomach pain, and respiratory complications. Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has reportedly prioritized the bill for the fall.
The bill would enact stronger safety standards for all trains carrying hazardous materials and make sure that trains, like the one that derailed in Ohio, would be subject to those regulations. It would also mandate two-person crews for all freight trains (which rail workers have long advocated for), limit train length, and increase the maximum fines for violating safety regulations. (The oil company that manufactured the toxic chemicals that were released in Ohio has also donated heavily to Republicans while pushing to weaken the bill, The Lever reported.)
“We remain committed to the ultimate goal of enacting bipartisan legislation that advances rail safety and strengthens the ability of rail carriers to maintain their critical role in the nation’s economy,” Norfolk Southern spokesperson Connor Spielmaker wrote in an email to The Intercept, noting that the legislation would help with preventing, mitigating, and responding to accidents and improve safety. “We look forward to continuing our engagement with Members of Congress on the issues, achieving a meaningful and effective new law, and leading on safety measures within the industry.”
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