Vance claims rail safety bill has sufficient votes for Senate passage.
Sen. J.D. Vance Signals Strong Support for Rail Safety Bill
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) is confident that his rail safety bill will pass in the Senate, following a recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. With the backing of six other Republicans, Vance believes he has enough votes to overcome a potential filibuster. Additionally, he expects unified support from Democrats.
Packed Senate Schedule
The Senate has a busy schedule this fall, with nominations and a fight over government funding taking up much of the chamber’s floor time. However, Vance has received a commitment from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that the bill will receive a vote.
“September is going to be tough because we’re only here for about 10 days, and there are appropriations and funding bills,” Vance explained. “But I’m confident that we’re in a good spot, and it’s going to happen soon.”
Overcoming Opposition
The rail safety bill has faced significant opposition from Republicans due to the regulations it would impose on rail companies. The East Palestine derailment, which resulted in a chemical spill, has left the community grappling with the aftermath. However, Vance, a first-term senator who ran on a populist platform, has managed to chip away at GOP reluctance by making adjustments to the bill.
Original co-sponsors Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) have been joined by Sens. Mike Braun (R-IN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) in supporting the bill.
Compromises have been made, such as exempting smaller rail companies from a two-person crew requirement and allocating funds for commuter railroads to install hot boxes for track malfunction detection. Vance acknowledged that the latter was a concession to the rail industry.
Continued Negotiations
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the ranking Republican on the Commerce Committee, initially showed support for rail workers threatening a nationwide strike but opposed the bill when it advanced through the panel. Cruz expressed concerns about potential restrictions on the transport of American energy, particularly liquefied natural gas.
Vance has been in discussions with House lawmakers to garner support for the bill, which he introduced with Democratic colleague Sherrod Brown of Ohio. However, both senators recognize that the bigger challenge lies in getting the bill passed in the House.
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