Josh Hawley Calls for Hearings on Joe Biden’s Response to Train Derailments, Toxic Impact

Following the massive train derailment in East Palestine, OH, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters (D-Mich.) requesting a hearing on federal disaster relief efforts. Senator Hawley has also expressed serious concern over the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) decision to deny Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s request for federal disaster assistance.

“The American people, not least the local residents of East Palestine and other affected communities, deserve to know how their federal government, including FEMA, is responding,” Hawley said. “If there are any gaps in our response efforts, it is the duty of this Committee to bring them to light.” 

Read the full letter here or below:

February 17, 2023

The Honorable Gary Peters
Chairman
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
340 Senate Dirksen Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Chairman Peters,

I write to request that you convene a hearing on federal disaster relief efforts to address transportation-related incidents taking place across the nation. As Members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), we have an obligation to conduct oversight over our federal disaster response, specifically as carried out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It is imperative that we conduct such oversight to study and investigate any potential shortcomings in our disaster response and preparedness, especially given the serious nature of these recent events.

As you may know, there has been significant attention and concern in recent weeks over multiple transportation-related incidents across the nation. Most notably, a train carrying highly toxic and combustible chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio earlier this month, leading residents of that community to evacuate. Authorities have said that multiple chemicals are “known to have been and continue to be” released to the air, surface soil, and surface waters, and subsequent testing has revealed contamination in some Ohio River tributaries. Yet FEMA has so far denied relief. Other recent incidents have prompted similar concerns, including train derailments near Houston, Texas and Detroit, Michigan, as well as a nitric acid spill near Tucson, Arizona.

Events like these threaten our critical infrastructure, disrupt our domestic supply chains, and uproot the lives of normal Americans. They also raise concerns over how the federal government responds to such incidents. The American people, not least the local residents of East Palestine and other affected communities, deserve to know how their federal government, including FEMA, is responding. If there are any gaps in our response efforts, it is the duty of this Committee to bring them to light.

Thank you for your attention and your consideration.

Sincerely,
Josh Hawley
United States Senator