Sherrod Brown
Ohioans in the U.S. House and Senate have introduced rail safety bills, how do they differ?
Ohio’s congressional delegation was quick to promise legislative action in the wake of the East Palestine train derailment. Now, lawmakers have introduced bipartisan measures in both chambers of Congress. In a moment of divided government and fever-pitch partisanship, it’s notable lawmakers from both parties came together to propose substantive policy changes. However, proponents could still […]
Biden says U.S. bank deposits are safe despite tumult over California bank collapse
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden reassured Americans early Monday that their money is safe in U.S. banks, after a tumultuous weekend following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and a move by regulators to shut down a second lender. Americans “should feel confident that their deposits will be there, if and when they need them,” […]
Will Norfolk Southern’s political spending help shield it from consequences?
Officials are all singing from the same hymnal. Republican and Democrat; state, local and federal; all agree Norfolk Southern will be, must be, held accountable for the train accident in East Palestine. Wednesday, U.S. Sens. J.D. Vance, R-OH and Sherrod Brown, D-OH, put pen to paper, introducing legislation for rail safety. But the company has […]
Federal, state officials weigh plans to increase rail safety
Ohio’s U.S. Senators have introduced sweeping rail safety legislation alongside four other senators from both sides of the aisle. Their Rail Safety Act of 2023 demands procedural and equipment changes, while increasing fines for violations and offering funding to spur improvements. Meanwhile, Ohio legislators met in the new Senate Select Committee on Rail Safety to […]
‘For them it’s just one train.’ A view from East Palestine and an update on response efforts
Angela Hacker’s East Palestine home backs up to the train tracks. “Literally, my fence goes up against the railroad tracks,” she explained. “And when this happened, the train was stopped by my house for three days until they backed it out.” “That was the safe part of the train, but still — when you see […]
Congressional delegation and EPA visit East Palestine to hear from residents impacted by derailment
In East Palestine Thursday, an Ohio congressman, both U.S. Senators and the EPA administrator heard from residents impacted by the train derailment earlier this month. Officials insisted they would do everything in their power to hold the train company Norfolk Southern accountable. U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance voiced skepticism on multiple fronts during his visit. He […]
Biden, McConnell, governors trumpet bipartisan funding for Ohio River bridge
COVINGTON, KY — President Joe Biden, joined by senators and governors from both sides of the political aisle and the Ohio River, came to Kentucky Wednesday to celebrate the bipartisanship that’s bringing a long-awaited upgrade of the Brent Spence Bridge and other critical infrastructure around the country. “A bridge built over half a century ago, […]
Campaigns brimming with optimism ahead of Tuesday election
In the final weekend of the midterms, every campaign believes the race is coming their way. Whether honest assessment or false bravado, they’ll readily explain how this poll or those returns are good for their prospects. From the outside looking in, it’s as though the biggest threat now is not a gaffe or a new […]
Intel breaks ground at “Silicon Heartland” in Licking County
White tents sprung up like mushrooms Friday on the dusty patch of dirt where Intel is building two microchip factories. Returning to a line from his last state of the union address, President Biden called it a “field of dreams” serving notice that “the industrial Midwest is back.” “Since I took office, our economy has […]
Oncology patients at serious risk with Congress’ drug pricing plan
As Congress works to lower health care costs, we reach a critical point in our nation’s debate over what consumers must pay for prescription medicines. The current Senate budget reconciliation package is hyper-focused on bringing down drug prices. Unfortunately, the legislation is short-sighted, and ignores a key remedy that would help lower out-of-pocket costs for […]
Record rent increases, low wages are driving an eviction crisis, U.S. Senate panel told
WASHINGTON — Witnesses in a Tuesday hearing detailed to a U.S. Senate committee how investors and stagnant wages are driving an eviction and housing crisis across the U.S. The chair of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, said that families are being priced out of buying homes, and rising […]
‘These people don’t care’: U.S. Senate GOP stalls bill for veterans exposed to burn pits
WASHINGTON — Veterans and their advocates gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday for what was supposed to be a celebration, one day after a crucial Senate vote on bipartisan legislation that would expand health care and benefits to 3.5 million veterans exposed to burn pits during their deployments. The gathering instead became a forum […]